X 


.  _..: 


G.  WASHINGTON 


/%&&%& 


H  I  S  T  0  R  Y 

OF 

THE     LIFE    AND    DEATH, 
VIRTUES  AND  EXPLOITS, 

OF 


General  George 


FAITHFULLY  TAKEN 

FROM 

AUTHENTIC  DOCUMENTS, 

AND,   NOW,    IN 

A  THIRD  EDITION  IMPROVED, 

RESPECTFULLY  OFFERED   TO  THE   PERUSAL  OF    HIS  COUN- 
TRYMEN ;    AS  ALSO,  OF  ALL  OTHERS  WHO  WISH  TO  SEE 
HUMAN  NATURE  IN  ITS  MOST  FINISHED  FORM. 


wee, 


A  life,  /JOiv  glorious ,  to  bis  country  led  ! 
J3tloi> ^  d  ivhile  living,  as  rever'd  noiu  dead, 
JWay  bis  example^  virtuous  deeds  inspire  ! 
Let  future  ages  read  itt  and  admire  / 


BY  THE  REV.  M.  L.  WEEMS, 
OF  LODGE  No.  50 — DUMFRIES. 


RE-PRINTED   BY   JOHN   BIOREN,   NO.  83  CHESNUT    STREET, 
FOR    THE    AUTHOR. 

[Entered  according  to 


DEDICATION. 


To  MRS.  MARTHA    WASHINGTON, 

THE  ILLUSTRIOUS   RELICT 
OF 

GENERAL  GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

Very  Hcnored  Madam, 

JL  HE  author  hopes  he  fhall  efcape  the  charge  of  pre- 
fumption  for  dedicating  this  little  book  to  you,  as  it  treats 
of  one,  to  whom,  you,  of  all  on  earth,  were,  and  flill 
are,  the  moil  tenderly  related.  One  of  my  reafons  for  wri- 
ting this  fketch  of  your  hufband's  life,  and  virtues,  is  derived 
from  thole  virtues  themfelves,  which  are  fuch  true  brilliants 
as  to  affure  me,  that  even  in  my  fimple  flyle,  like  diamonds 
on  the  earth,  they  will  fo  play  their  part  at  'jparkting,  that 
many  an  honed  youth  fhall  long  to  place  them  in  the  cafket 
of  his  own  bofom. 

Should  it  contribute,  in  any  wife,  to  diffufe  the  fpirit  of 
WASHINGTON—-^  any  degree  to  promote  thofe  virtues  y 
which  rendered  him  the  greatefly  becaufe  the  moft  Jervice- 
dUe  of  mankind — Should  it  ferve  to  foothe  the  forrows  of 
WASHINGTON'S  dear  Relitt^  during  her  fhort  feparation  from 
that  befl  of  hufbands,  now  brighteft  of  faints— And  O  \ 
Ihould  it  be  fo  favoured  as  to  fuggeft  to  the  children,  now 
that  their  father  is  dead,  the  great  duty  of  burying  their 
quarrels,  and  of  heartily  uniting  to  love,  and  to  promote 
each  other's  good — It  will  be  matter  of  great  joy  to  one, 
who  can  fincerely  fubfcribe  himfelf  the  lover  of  all,  who, 
fear  God,  honor  the  Prefident  (dldams  or  Jsfferfcn9)  revere 
the  laws,  and  are  not  given  to  thange. 

May    God's   everlafting   coniblations  attend  the   bofom 
friend^  of  WASHINGTON  !  .is   the  prayer  of  orphan'd 
America  ;  and  the  prayer  of 
Honored  Madam, 

Tour  Sincere,  though  Unknown  Friend, 

M,  L.%  WBEMS.  , 
2su/,  1800.  /" 


THE      LIFE 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  Efq, 


Ji  HIS  truly  great  man,  the  third  fon  of  a  Mr.  Auguftin  Wafh* 
ington,  was  born  in  Weftmoreland  county,  Virginia,  on  the  22d 
day  of  February,  1732.  He  was  the  firft  fon  of  a  second  marriage  ; 
a  circumftance  which  ought,  in  all  conference,  to  quiet  the  minds  of 
thofe  who  have  their  doubts  with  refpeft  to  the  lawfulness  of  ie- 
cond  marriages. 

His  education  was  of  the  privateva\&  proper  fort.  Dead  Ian guage% 
pride,  and  pedantry,  had  no  charms  for  him  who  always  preferred 
fenfe  to  found,  the  kernel  to  the  {hell.  A  grammatical  knowledge 
of  bis  mother -tongue — *tbe  mathematics— geography — history — na- 
tural and  moral  philosophy ',  were  the  valuable  objects  of  his  youth- 
ful ftudies  :  And  in  thefe  he  made  the  proficiency  of  one  who  al- 
ways loved  to  go  deep. 

Atfchool  he  was  remarkable  forgfo0d'iiatp*BQgRd  candour;  quali- 
ties which  acquired  him  fo  entirely  the  hearts  of  his  young  compa- 
nions, that  a  reference  to  him  was  the  ufual  mode  of  deciding  all 
differences.  After  leaving  his  tutor  he  a£ted,  for  a  few  years,  as 
a  county  furveyor,  in  which  profeflion,  his  indufcry,  as  alfo  the 
neatness-  and  regularity  with  which  he  did  every  thing,  were  uni* 
versally  admired. 

In  1753,  the  French  and  Indians  began  to  mike  inroads  on  our 
weftern  frontiers  along  the  Ohio.  Governor  Dmwicldie  was  very 
defirous  to  get  a  letter  of  remonstrance  to  their  commander  in  chief. 
He  had  applied  to  feveral  young  gentlemen  of  h is  acquaintance  ;  but 
they  were  all  fo  exceedingly  tender  of  their  night-cups^  that  they 
could  not  be  prevailed  on,  for  love  or  money,  to  venture  out  aniong 
the  favages,  Wafhington  happening  to  hear  of  it,  initantly  waited 
on  his  excellency,  and  offered:  his  fervices,  but  not  without  being 
terribly  afraid  left  his  want  of  a  beard  fhould  go  aguinft  him.  How- 
ever, the  governor  was  fo  charmed  with  his  modeily  and  mar.ly  air7 
that  he  never  aiked  him  a  fyllable  about  his  age,  but,  after  thanking 
him  for  u  a  nolle  youtb"  and  infilling  on  his  taking  a  glafs  of  wine 
with  hinK  {lipped  a  cotnmiflSon  into  his  hand.  The  next  day,  ac- 
by  an  interprets!  and  a  couple  of  fervants,  he  lut.w^t 


(        4        ) 

on  his  expedition,  which  was,  from  flart  to  pole,  as  difagreeable 
and  dangerous  as  any  thing  Hercules  himfelf  could  have  wifhed.— 
Soaking  rains,  chilling  blafls,  roaring  floods,  pathlefs  woods,  and 
mountains  clad  mfnows  oppofed  his  courfe  ;  but  oppofed  in  vain — 
The  glorious  ambition  to  ferve  his  country  imparted  an  animation 
to  his  nerves,  which  rendered  him  fuperior  to  all  difficulties,  and 
happiei*  far  than  the  little  fouls  he  left  behind  him  in  Williamfburg, 
carouiing  and  card-playing  in  the  Rawleigh.* 

Returning  homewards,  he  was  waylaid  and  fhot  at  by  a  French 
Indian,  and  though  the  copper-coloured  ruffian  was  not  15  fleps 
diflant  when  he  fired  at  him,  yet  not  even  fo  much  as  the  smell  of 
lead  pafled  on  the  clothes  of  our  young  hero  ;  fo  true  ftill  is  the  pro- 
mife  on  record  in  the  good  old  book,  viz. 

"  The  hods  of  God  encamp  around 

The  dwellings  of  the  jufl ; 

And  mighty  angels  wait  on  all, 

Who  in  his  mercy  truft." 

On  his  return  to  Williamfburg  it  was  found  that  he  had  executed 
his  negociations,  both  with  the  French  and  Indians,  with  fo  much 
fidelity  and  judgment,  that  he  received  the  heartieft  thanks  of  the 
governor  and  council  for  the  very  important  fervices  he  had  done 
his  country. 

He  was  now  (in  the  20th  year  of  his  age)  appointed  major  and 
adjutant- general  of  the  Virginia  forces.  Soon  after  this,  the  French 
continuing  their  encroachments,  orders  were  given  by  the  Englifh 
government,  for  the  colonies  to  arm  and  unite  in  one  confederacy. 
Virginia  took  the  lead,  and  raifed  a  regiment  of  four  hundred  men, 
at  the  head  of  which  the  placed  her  darling  Wafhington. 

With  thfs  handful  of  brave  fellows,  Col.  Walhington,  not  yet  23, 
boldly  pufhed  out  into  the  Indian  country,  and  there,  for  a  confide- 
rable  time,  Hannibal-like,  maintained  the  war  againft  three  times 
the  number  of  French  and  Indians.  At  the  Red-Stones  he  came 
up  with  a  ftrong  party  of  the  enemy,  whom  he  engaged  and  effec- 
tually defeated,  after  having  killed  and  taken  thirty-one  men.  From 
his  prifoners,  he  obtained  undoubted  intelligence,  that  the  French 
forces  on  the  Ohio  confifted  of  upwards  of  a  ihoufand  regulars  and 
many  hundreds  of  Indians.  But,  notwithflanding  this  difheartening 
advice,  he  ftill  prefled  on  undauntedly  againfl  the  enemy,  and  at  a 
place  called  the  Little-Meadows,  built  a  fort,  which  he  called  Fort- 
Neceffity.  Here  he  waited,  hourly  and  anxiouily  looking  for  fuc- 
cours  from  New- York  and  Pennfylvania  ;  but  he  looked  in  vain- — 
nobody  came  to  his  alTiflance.  Not  long  after  this,  his  fmall  force, 
now  reduced  to  three  hundred  men,  was  attacked  by  an  array  of 

*  Note.  A  fimouv  tavern  in  Williamfburg,  chriftencd  Ra\vieigh,  in  honor,  I  fup- 
pofc,  of  the  great  Sir  Walter. 


(    *    ) 

1100  French  and  Indians.  Never  did  the  true  Virginian  valour 
ihine  more  glorioufly  than  on  this  trying  occafion. 

To  fee  three  hundred  young  fellows — commanded  by  a  fmooth- 
faced  boy — all  unaccuftomed  to  the  terrors  of  war — far  from  home, 
and  from  all  hopes  of  help — fhut  up  in  a  dreary  wildernefs,  and  fur- 
rounded  by  four  times  their  number  of  favage  foes,  and  yet,  without 
fign  of  fear,  without  thought  of  furrender,  preparing  for  mortal 
combat.  Oh  I  it  was  a  noble  fight  I  Scarcely  fmce  the  days  of  Leo- 
nidas  and  his  three  hundred  deathlefs  Spartans  had  the  fun  beheld  its 
equal,  With  hideous  whoops  and  yells  the  enemy  came  on  like  a 
hofl  of  tygers.  The  woods,  and  rocks,  and  tall  tree  tops,*  were 
in  one  continued  blaze  and  crafh  of  fire  arms.  Nor  were  our  young 
warriors  idle,  but,  animated  by  their  gallant  chief,  plied  their  ri- 
fles with  fuch  fpirit,  that  their  little  fort  refembled  a  volcano  in  full 
blaft  roaring  and  difcharging  thick  meets  of  liquid  fire  and  of  leaden 
deaths  among  their  foes.  For  three  glorious  hours,  Salamander- 
like,  inveloped  infmoke  and  flame,  they  fuflained  the  attack  of  the 
enemy's  whole  force,  and  laid  two  hundred  of  them  dead  on  the 
fpot !  Difcouraged  by  fuch  defperate  refiftance,  the  French  gene- 
ral, the  count  de  Villiers,  lent  in  a  flag  to  Wafhington,  extolling 
his  gallantry  to  the  ikies,  and  offering  him  the  moft  honorable  terms* 
It  was  ftipulatedthat  Col.  Wamington  and  his  little  band  of  heroes, 
Ihould  march  away  with  all  the  honors  of  war,  and  carry  with  them 
their  military  (lores  and  baggage. 

In  the  fpringof  1755,  Wamington,  while  bufied  in  the  higheft 
military  operations,  was  fummoned  to  attend  general  Braddock, 
who,  in  the  month  of  February,  arrived  at  Alexandria  with  2,OOO 
Britifh  troops.  The  aflembly  of  Virginia  appointed  8OO  provinci- 
als to  join  him.  The  objecl;  of  this  army  was  to  march  through  the 
country,  by  the  way  of  WillVCreek,  to  fort  du  Quefne  (now  Pittf- 
burgh  or  Fort-Pitt).  As  no  perfon  was  fo  well  acquainted  with  the 
frontier  country  as  Wamington,  and  none  flood  fo  high  in  military 
fame,  it  was  thought  he  would  be  infinitely  ferviceable  to  general 
Braddock.  At  the  requeft  of  the  governor  and  council  he  cheer- 
fully quitted  his  own  command,  to  aft  as  volunteer  aid-de-camp  to 
that  very  imprudent  and  unfortunate  general.  The  army,  near 
5,000  flrong,  marched  from  Alexandria  to  the  mournful  ditty  of 
44  over  the  hills  and  far  away,"  and  proceeded  unmolefted  within  a 
few  miles  of  Fort-Pitt.  On  the  morning  of  the  day  (9th  of  July) 
on  which  they  expected  to  arrive,  the  provincial  fcouts  difcovered 
a  large  party  of  French  and  Indians  lying  in  ambufh.  Wafhingcon, 
with  his  ufual  modefty,  obferved  to  general  Braddock  what  fort  of 
enemy  he  had  now  to  deal  with.  An  enemy  who  would  not,  like 

*  Note.  Numbers  of  ths  Indians,  climbing  to  the  tops  of  the  trees,  poured  dowa. 
their  bullets  into  the  fort. 


0        6        ) 

the  Europeans,  come  forward  to  a  fair  conteft  in  the  field,  but,  con- 
cealed behind  rocks  and  trees,  carry  on  a  deadly  warfare  with  their 
rifles.  He  concluded  with  begging  that  general  Braddock  would 
grant  him  the  honor  to  let  him  place  himfelf  at  the  head  of  the  Vir- 
ginia riflemen,  and  fight  them  in  their  own  way.  And  it  was  ge- 
nerally thought  that  our  young  hero  and  his  800  hearts  of  hickory, 
would  very  eafily  have  beaten  them  too,  for  they  were  not  fuperior 
to  the  force,  which,  (with  only  three  hundred)  he  had  handled 
fo  roughly  a  twelve  month  before.  But  general  Braddock,  who 
had  all  along  treated  the  American  officers  and  foldiers  with  infinite 
contempt,  inftead  of  following  this  truly  falutary  advice,  fwelled 
and  reddened  with  moft  unmanly  rage  :  u  High  times,  by  G — d," 
•  he  exclaimed,  flrutting  to  and  fro,  with  arms  a-kimbo,  u  High 
times  !  when  a  young  Buckfldn  can  teach  a  Britifli  general  how  to 
fight !"  Wafhington  withdrew,  biting  his  lip  with  grief  and  in- 
dignation, to  think  what  numbers  of  brave  fellows  would  draw 
ihort  breath  that  day,  through  the  pride  and  obftinacy  of  one  epau- 
letted  fool.  The  troops  were  ordered  to  form  and  advance  in  co- 
lumns through  the  woods  III!  In  a  little  time  the  ruin,  which 
Wafliington  had  predicted,  enfued.  This  poor  devoted  army, 
puflied  on  by  their  mad-cap  general,  fell  into  the  fatal  fnare  which 
was  laid  for  them.  All  at  once  a  thoufand  rifles  began  the  work  of 
death.  The  ground  was  inftantly  covered  with  the  dying  and  the 
dead.  The  Britifli  troops,  thus  flaughtered  by  hundreds,  and  by 
an  enemy  whom  they  could  not  fee,  were  thrown  irrecoverably  in- 
to panic  and  confufion,  and  in  a  few  minutes  their  haughty  general,* 
with  1200  of  his  brave,  but  unfortunate  countrymen,  bit  the  ground. 
Amidft  all  this  fearful  confternation  and  carnage,  amidft  all  the  up- 
roar and  horrors  of  a  rout,  rendered  ftill  more  dreadful  by  the 
groans  of  the  dying,  the  fcreams  of  the  wounded,  the  piercing 
ihrieks  of  the  women,,  and  the  yells  of  the  furious  afiaulting  fava- 
ges,  Wafhington,  calm  and  f elf- collected,  rallied  his  faithful  rifle- 
men, led  them  on  to  the  charge,  killed  numbers  of  the  enemy  who 
were  ruming  on  with  tomahawks,  checked  their  purfuit,  and  bro't 
off  the  (battered  remains  of  the  Bridfh  army. 

This  glorious  aBion  confirmed  his  admiring  countrymen  in  the 
very  high  opinion  which  they  had  conceived  of  their  Wafhington. 
His  valour  and  military  talents  were  extolled  to  the  ikies.  The 

*  Note,  Poor  Braddock  clofed  the  tragedy  with  great  decency.  He  was  mortally 
wounded  in  the  beginning  of  the  a03ion;  and  Washington  had  him  placed  in  a  cart 
ready  for  retreat.  Cioie,  on  the  left,  -A  here  the -weight  of  the  French  and  Indian  fire 
principally  fell,  Wafliington  and  his  Virginia  riflemen,  clrefled  in  Llue>  fuftained  the- 
ihock.  At  every  discharge  of  their  rifles  the  wounded  general  cried  out,  "  0  my  brave 
Virginia  Hues  !  ivoulJ  God  I  cotilJ  but  live  to  reward  you  for  fuel  gallantry."  But  he  died. 
Wafhington  buried  Liiu  in  the  rocd,znd,  to  lave  him  from  difcovery,  and  the  fcalping 
knife,  ordered  the  waggons  on  their  retreat  to  drht  aver  kit  grave  i  Q  Gvd  !  ivb&t  i,  man  ? 
£ven  a  thing  of  nwgkt* 


(    1    ) 

bravery  of  the  Virginia  troops,  on  this  trying  occafion,  rejoiced  the 
good  old  mother  country,  and  was  furely  enough  to  have  taught  her 
to  defpife  that  execrable  fire-brand,  general  Amherft,  who,  a  few 
years  afterwards,  moil  impudently  aflerted,  that  the  sight  of  a  gre- 
nadier's cap  would  put  an  American  army  to  flight,  and  even  boafted 
in  parliament,  that  be  could  march  through  all  North-America  with 

5000  men !!!!!!! 

With  refpect  to  our  Wafhington,  I  cannot  but  mention  here  two 
very  extraordinary  fpeeches  that  were  uttered  about  him  at  this 
time,  and  which,  as  things  have  turned  out,  look  a  good  deal  like 
prophecies.  A  famous  Indian  warrior  who  aflifted  in  the  defeat  of 
Braddock,  was  often  heard  to  fwear  that  Wafhington  was  not  born 
to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  "/or,"  continued  he, "  I  had  1 7 fair  f  res  at  him  ' 
with  my  rifle,  and,  after  all,  I  could  not  bring  him  to  the  ground" — 
And,  indeed,  whoever  confiders  that  a  good  rifle,  levelled  by  a  pro- 
per markfman,  hardly  ever  mifles  its  aim,  will  readily  enough  con- 
clude, with  this  unlettered  favage,  that  fome  invifible  hand  muft 
have  turned  afide  his  bullets. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Davies,  in  a  fennon  occafioned  by  Braddock's 
defeat,  has  thefe  remarkable  words — "  /  beg  leave  to  point  the  at- 
tention of  the  public  to  that  heroic  youth,  coL  Washington,  whom  I 
cannot  but  hope  Providence  has  preserved  for  some  great  service  t9 
this  country"  Yes,  reverend  Sir,  for  fome  great  service  indeed. — 
He  was  preferved  of  God  to  be  the  political  faviour  of  his  country. 
He  who  infpired  the  flaming  fancies  of  a  Barlow  and  a  Dwight : 
He  who  imparted  the  ken  of  angels  to  Franklin  and  to  Rittenhoufe, 
even  he,  the  fame  all-gracious  power,  railed  up  Wamington,  to  be 
his  minifter  of  mercies  to  America.  Oh  !  that  there  were  an  heart 
in  us  to  adore  the  giver,  and  to  emulate  the  bright  virtues  of  his 
precious  gift. 

After  the  defeat  and  death  of  general  Braddock,  Waftiington 
continued  to  prefs  forward,  the  foremoft  man  to  fall  upon  every 
difficulty  or  danger  that  threatened  his  beloved  country.  And  the 
Lord  was  with  him  whithersoever  he  went,  and  whatsoever  he  did  the 
Lord  made  it  to  prosper.  On  every  occafion  he  difplayed  fo  much 
wifdom,  indullry,  and  valour,  as  gained  him  his  country's  heartieft 
approbation,  a  reward  which,  next  to  the  fmiles  of  his  own  con- 
fcience,  he  valued  more  than  all  things  elfe. 

In  1759,  he  refigned  his  command,  and  entered  into  the  married 
ftate,  in  the  27th  year  of  his  age,  with  the  young  and  amiable  wi- 
dow of  Mr.  Cuftis,  with  whom  he  received  one  of  the  handfomeft 
eftates  in  Virginia.  From  this  period  he  became  as  afliduous  to 
fervc  the  ftate  as  a  fenator,  as  he  had  hitherto  been  active  to  defend 
it  as  a  foldier ;  thus  teaching  us,  by  his  own  great  example,  that  a 
real  patriot  thinks  nothing  done  for  his  country,  while  there  re- 
mains any  thing  to  be  done  for  it. 


(          8          ) 

In  the  year  1773,  when  the  lamp  of  God  was  burning  with  pecu- 
liar brightnefs  in  our  land,  and  both  Britain  and  her  colonies  enjoy- 
ed a  meafure  of  bletTmgs  feldom  indulged  to  the  mod  favored  na- 
tions— When,  at  the  very  mention  of  Old-England,  our  hearts 
leaped  for  joy,  as  at  the  name  of  a  great  and  venerable  mother, 
and  that  mother  felt  an  equal  tranfport  at  thoughts  of  us,  her  flou- 
rifhing  colonies — When  all  the  produce  of  thefe  vaft  and  fertile 
regions  was  poured  into  her  beloved  lap,  and  me,  in  return,  not 
allowing  us  the  trouble  to  make  even  a  hob-nail,  heaped  our  fami- 
lies with  all  the  neceffaries  and  elegancies  of  her  ingenious  artifts. — 
When,  tho'  far  feparated  by  an  ocean's  roar,  we  were  yet  fo  united 
by  love  and  mutual  helpfumefs,  thutthe  fouls  of  Rawleigh  and  Co- 
lumbus, looking  from  heaven  on  the  enchanting  fcene,  enjoyed  the 
contamination  of  their  wiflies,  and  felt  an  acceflion  to  their  blifs  : 
At  this  happy  period,  lord  North  brought  in  a  bill  to  tax  the  colo- 
nies without  allowing  us  a  voice  in  their  councils!!!  The  colonies 
were  thunderftruck,  and  Britain  herfelf,  "  fighing  through  all  her 
ifiand,  gave  figns  of  woe  that  all  was  loft." 

Millions  of  that  magnanimous  and  freedom-loving  people  execra- 
ted the  meafure  as  unconftitutional  and  wicked. 

London,  Liverpool,  Glafgow,  Briftol,  &c.  poured  in  petitions  on 
petitions,  praying  the  minifter,  in  companion  to  their  half-ruined 
trade  and  families,  to  repeal  the  act.  Petitions  and  remonftrances, 
without  number,  were  fent  alfo  from  America  to  the  king,  to  the 
parliament,  and  to  the  people  of  Great-Britain  ;  but  thefe,  like  the 
unfortunate  petitions  juft  mentioned,  were  all  configned  to  the 
"  committee  of  oblivion"  as  oppofidon  humouroufly  ftyled  it.  The 
miniftry  would  not  honor  them  even  with  a  reading  !  They  had 
attempted  in  1 765,  eight  years  before,  to  impofe  on  the  colonies  an 
unconftitutional  tax,  under  cover  of  the  stamp-aft.  This  had  blown 
up  fuch  a  flame  of  oppofition  throughout  the  continent,  efpecially 
at  Bofton,  that  the  miniftry  prudently  fufFered  the  matter  to  die 
away.  But  the  gall  of  difappointment  was  flill  bitter  on  their  minds, 
and  they  now  thought  to  have  fatisfaction  by  laying  a  tax  of  three 
pence  in  the  pound  on  all  teas  confumed  in  the  colonies.  This  fet 
the  old  flame  agoing  .gain.  The  colonifts  at  firft  employed,  as  we 
have  fee n,  moderate  i-.  afures,  but  finding  that  thefe  were  treated 
with  conte*.,-'t,  ^.nd  that  the  face  of  North,  black  as  the  cloud  of 
winter,  was  na.ru  ;'et  a^aiiiit  them  for  evil,  they  rofe  up  as  one  man, 
from  Dan  to  3ecrihe'  i,  refolved,  like  true  fons  of  Britons,  to  live 
free,  o~  not  to  live  at  all.  Soon,  therefore,  as  the  mips,  laden  with 
the  ill-fated  tea,  arrived  at  JBofton,  in  the  fall  of  1773,  immenfe 
quantities  ot  k  (£.18,000  fterling's  worth)  were  thrown  into  the 
fea  ;  larg:  parcels  of  it  were  deilroyed  in  other  colonies,  and  ftill 
larger  parcels  (to  the  amount  of /*.3OG,OOO)  were  returned  unfold. 
On  the  arrival  of  this  news  in  England,  the  countenance  of  the 


h  c    9    ) 

minifter  was  dark  with  fury,  and  he  proceeded,  without  delay,  to 
mix  up  for  the  colonies  a  cup  of  fiery  indignation,  of  which  Bof- 
ton,  it  feems,  was  to  have  the  largefl  dofe.  As  that  moil  unduti- 
ful  child  had  always  led  off  the  dance  in  outrage  and  rebellion  a 
gainfl  the  parent  flate,  it  was  determined  that  ihe  Ihould  pay  tho. 
piper  for  did  and  new — that  her  purfe  fhould  anfwer  for  all  the  tea 
that  had  been  deflroyed — that  her  luxuriant  trade,  which  had  made 
her  fo  wanton,  fhould  be  taken  away  from  her — and  that,  maugre 
her  high  looks  and  proud  uomach,  Ihe  ihould  fit  on  the  ftool  of  re- 
pentance until  his  gracious  majelty,  George  III.  fhculd  be  pleafed 
to  pronounce  her  pardon. 

On  the  receipt  of  this  intelligence  at  Boflon,  the  paffions  of  the 
people  flew  up,  five  hundred  degrees  above  blood-heat!  throughout 
the  continent  the  fever  raged  with  equal  fury.  The  colonies  all  extol- 
led Boflon  for  the  firmncfs  with  which  fhe  had  flood  up  for  her  char- 
tered rights — liberal  contributions  were  made  for  her  relief — and 
this  miniflerial  attack  on  her  liberties,  was  confidered  as  an  attack 
on  the  liberties  of  the  whole,  which  were  now  thought  to  be  in 
fuch  danger,  as  loudly  to  call  for  a  general  Congrefs  from  all  the 
colonies,  to  deliberate  on  their  common  interefts.  This  mofl  un- 
kingly  body  fat  down,  for  the  firfl  time,  in  Philadelphia,  Sept.  5th, 
1 774.  They  began  with  publifliing  a  bill  of  rights,  wherein,  "  they 
"  repeated  their  loyalty  and  love  to  the  mother  country,  together 
"  with  an  earned  wilh  for  a  constitutional  dependance  on  her  ;  but, 
"  at  the  fame  time,  they  begged  leave  to  allure,  that  though  flie, 
"  in  her  excels  of  parental  fondnefs,  might  fuffer  herfelf  to  be 
"  bound  and  infulted  by  North  and  Bute,  and  other  Philifline  lords, 
"  yet  they,  for  their  parts,  were  reiblved,  like  true  fons  of  Britifh 
"  Sampfons,  to  rife  and  fight  to  the  lait  hair  of  their  heads."  They 
afierted,  and  begged  leave  to  do  it  pretty  roundly  too,  as  it  was  get- 
ting now  high  time  to  fpeak  plain,  that,  by  the  immutable  laws  of 
nature — by  the  principles  of  the  British  constitution — and  by  tbsir 
several  charters,  they  had  a  right  to  liberty,  the  liberty  of  Britiih 
colonies ;  and,  moreover,  that  their  ever-honored  fathers,  at  the 
time  of  their  emigration  to  this  country,  were  entitled  to  all  the 
rights  of  freemen  ;  and  fmce,  by  fuch  emigration,  they  had  neither 
forfeited  nor  furrendered  thefe  rights — that  they,  their  children, 
were  determined,  at  the  rifk  of  every  thing  fhort  of  their  eternal 
falvatiou,  to  defend  and  to  tranfmit  them  entire  to  their  pofterity. 

Millions  of  choice  fpirits  in  England,  Scotland  and  Ireland,  cri- 
ed out  "  that's  well  said,  and  may  God^s  arm  strike  'with  ourA/neri- 
"  can  brother*  ;"  this  was  coming  to  the  point,  and  produced  the 
effect  that  might,  be  expected.  For,  inflantly,  all  exportation  of 
arms  and  ammunition  to  America  was  prohibited — large  reinforce- 
ments were  fent  to  the  king's  troops  at  Boflon — and  every  ftep  was 
taken  to  compel  the  colonies  to  fnhmifiion.  This  filled  un  the  mea- 

B 


fure  of  American  hatred  to  the  miniftry^  and  called  forth  the  mod 
vigorous  preparations  for  war.  Every  ounce  of  gunpowder  was 
.  hufbanded  like  fo  much  gold-dull  j  powder-mills  and  mufquet-ma- 
nufaclories  were  creeled  in  mod  of  the  colonies,  while  others,  as  not 
liking  this  flow  way  of  doing  things,  laid  violent  hands  at  once  up- 
on all  the  king's  arms  and  ammunition  that  came  in  their  way*  The 
hell-fraughted  cloud  of  civil  war  was  now  ready  to  burft,  and  April 
the  19th,  1775,  was  the  fatal  day  marked  out  by  myfterious  Heaven, 
for  tearing  away  the  infant  colonies  from  the  (hri veiled  paps  of  the 
old  mother  country.  Early  that  morning,  gen.  Gage,  whofe  force  in 
Boflon  was  augmented  to  10,000  men,  lent  a  detachment  of  1,OOO 
to  deftroy  fome  military  flores  which  the  Americans  had  collected 
in  the  town  of  Concord,  near  Lexington.  On  coming  to  the  place, 
they  found  the  town  militia  aflembled  on  the  green  near  the  road. 
"  Throw  down  your  arms,  and  disperse,  you  rebels,"  was  the  cry  of 
the  Britifh  officer,  which  was  immediately  followed  by  a  general 
difcharge  of  the  foldiers  ;  whereby  eight  of  the  Americans  were 
killed  and  feveral  wounded.  The  provincials  returned  the  fire  with 
good  intereft,  and  flrewed  the  green  with  the  dead  and  wounded. 
Such  fierce  difcharges  of  mufquetry  produced  the  effect  that  might 
have  been  expecled  in -a  land  of  freemen,  who  faw  their  brave  coun- 
trymen fuddenly  engaged  in  the  flrife  of  death.  Never,  before, 
had  the  bofoms  of  the  fwains  experienced  fuch  a  tumult  of  heroic 
paffions.  They  flew  to  their  houfes^  fnatched  up  their  arms,  and, 
in  fpite  of  their  wild  f creaming  wives  and  children,  flew  to  the  glo- 
rious field  where  liberty,  heaven-born  goddefs,  was  to  be  bought 
for  blood.  Pouring  in  now  from  every  -quarter,  were  feen  crowds 
of  flurdy  peafants  \\itiijtusbed  checks,  and  faming  eyes,  eager  for 
battle  !  Fail  as  they  came  up  their  ready  mufquets  began  to  pour 
the  long  red  flreams  of  fiery  vengeance.  The  enemy  fell  back  ap- 
palled ;  while  the  gathering  thoufands  hung  upon  their  flight.  Every 
flep  of  their  retreat  was  flamed  with  trickling  crimfon  ;  every  hedge 
or  fence  by  which" they  patted,  took  large  toll  of  hoilile  carcafes. 
They  would,  in  all  probability,  have  been  cut  off  to  a  man,  had  not 
gen.  Gage,  luckily  recollecting  that,  born  of  Britons,  thefe  Yankees 
might  Hill  perhaps  retain  fome  of  the  old  lions/ire,  fent  on  2,000 
men  to  fupport,  if  neceflary,  his  troops.  This  reinforcement  met 
the  poor  fellows,  faint  with  fear  and  fatigue,  and  brought  them  fafe- 
ly  off  to  Bofton.  In  this  their  firft  field,  the  young  American  far- 
mers gleaned  of  the  Britifh  about  fixty-three  in  flain,  and  two  hun- 
dred and  eight  in  wounded  and  prifoners.  The  fire  of  civil  difcord 
npw  broke  out,  a  roaring  iiamc,  and,  with  equal  ardor,  both  parties 
hitftened  to  clap  on  the  horrid  kettle  of  war. 

On  this  day,  June  12,  1775,  general  Gage  iflued  his  proclamation 
of  rebellion,  with  threats  of  heaviefl  vengeance  againft  the  rebels  ; 
extending  however,  in  the  king's  name,  the  golden  fceptre  of  rner- 


C      11      ) 

cy  to  ail  true  penitents,  Samuel  Ad;  mi,  and  John  Hancock,  ex- 
cepted.  The  Britifh  1O,OOO  flrong  were  flill  in  Bofton  where, 
ever  fince  the  affair  of  Concord,  they  had  been  furrounded  by  an 
army  of  20,000  Provincials,*  all  fo  eager  to  try  the  city  by  ftorm, 
that  it  was  with  the  greateft  difficulty  their  officers  could  reftrain 
them. 

On  the  night  of  June  16,  with  a  view  of  driving  the  Britifh 
from  Bofton,  the  Provincial  Generals  fent  a  body  of  fifteen  hun- 
dred men,  to  throw  up  fome  works  on  Bunker's  hill.  Next  morn- 
ing General  Gage  pufhed  off  a  detachment,  three  thoufand  ftrong, 
with  a  fuitable  train  of  artillery,  to  diflodge  them.  The  attack 
was  made  with  great  fury  on  the  part  of  the  Britifh,  while  the 
Americans  did  not  return  a  fhot,  until  the  enemy  had  come  up 
within  ten  fteps  of  the  works.  A  wejl  directed  and  moft  horrid 
fire  then  took  place.  The  Britifh  fell  back.  Their  gallant  officers 
led  them  a  fecond  time  to  the  charge  j  a  fecond  fire  equally  clofe 
and  deadly,  drqve  them  back  again.  But,  led  on  a  third  time, 
by  dint  of  bayonet  they  at  length  carried  the  works  ;  and  the  Ame- 
ricans deflitute  of  that  weapon,  were  obliged,  after  an  obflinate 
refiftance,  to  quit  their  little  dirt  fort,  the  ever  green  grave  of  the 
immortal  Warren,  and  many  more  of  weeping  Liberty's  martyred, 
fons.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Britifh  drew  back  to  town  with  so- 
lemn steps  and  Jlow,  having  nearly  one  half  of  their  whole  detach- 
ment killed  and  wounded. 

The  bloody  Rubicon  was  now  pafled,  and  Congrefs,  having  clo- 
fed  with  the  Britifh  in  an  awful  appeal  to  the  fword,  faw  the  ne- 
ceffity  of  appointing  a  Commander  in  Chief.  .In  a  moment  the 
great  name  of  Wafliington  was  buzzed  from  Georgia  to  New- 
Hampfhire.  Congrefs  haftened  to  meet  the  wifh  of  the  nation  ; 
and  Walhington  was  unaniinoufly  elected  Commander  in  Chief  pf 
the  armies  of  his  country.  On  the  third  day  of  July,  1775,  he 
arrived  at  the  continental  camp  near  Bofton,  where  he  was  received 
with  great  joy,  after  having  been  treated  on  his  way  through  the 
fdates,  with  all  the  attention  due  to  that  great  and  virtuous  man, 
to  whom,  under  God,  the  whole  continent  looked  for  fafety  and 
freedom.  During  the  autumn  and  winter  of  1775,  Wafhington 
could  do  no  more  with  the  Britifh,  than  to  hold  them  clofe  confi- 
ned in  Bafion,  where  the  fcurvy  got  in  among  them  and  proved 
very  fatal.  To  remedy  this  evil,  immenfe  quantities  of  liveftock 
and  vegetables  were  f hipped  from  Britain — 5,OOO  fat  oxen — 14,OOO 
fheep — 12,000  hogs-r-22,OOO  pounds  fterling  worth  of  four  crout 

*  How  adorable  the  goodncfs  of  God  for  ordering  that  the  minifterial  attack  on 
our  liberties,  fhould  fall  on  the  papulous  and  high  toned  New  Fnglanders  !  The  hero 
ic  fpirit  with  which  they  repelled  it,  fhould,  to  eternity,  endear  them  to  their/*'/* 

era  krotben. 


(          12          ) 

—and  nearly  the  fame  amount  in  hay,  oats  and  beans,  for  a  single 
regiment  of  cavalry  !  !  A  proof,  that  nations,  as  well  as  indivi- 
duals, had  better  Sometimes  to  pccket  an  injury,  and  favc  the  ex- 
pence. 

In  the  fpring  of  1776,  Wafhington  gave  orders  to  erecl  on  the 
heights  near  Boflon,  three  large  batteries,  whofe  heavy  fire  both 
of  balls  and  bombs  foon  rendered  the  town  fo  intolerably  hot,  that 
General  Gage  was  glad  to  evacuate  it  on  the  17th  of  March,  when 
Wafhington  marched  in  with  the  honours  of  a  triumph,  and  was 
welcomed  by  the  people  and  by  the  flate  aflembly,  as  Heaven's 
agent  of  their  deliverance.  In  confequence  of  fome  disturbances, 
this  year  in  Corolina  in  favour  of  the  miniftry,  Sir  Peter  Parker 
was  difpatched  with  nine  fhips  of  war,  from  fifty  to  twenty  guns 
e^ch,  with  a  large  land  force  commanded  by  Clinton  and  Cornwal- 
lis,  to  make  an  attempt  on  Charleston  the  capital  of  South  Caroli- 
nia.  Before  the  fhips  could  be  brought  to  pay  their  refpe&s  to  the 
town,  they  mufl,  it  feems,  pafs  a  little  fort  on  Sullivan's  iiland. — 
This,  however,  being- defended  only  by  the  raw  militia,  was  hard- 
ly looked  on  as  an  obstacle.  Happily  for  America,  Wafhington 
had  committed  the  command  of  it  to  General  Moultrie.  About 
ten  o'clock,  June  1S8th,  Sir  Peter  Parker  having  brought  his  Ihips 
of  war  clofe  along  fide  the  fort,  began  a  tremendous  canonade  up- 
on it,  not  without  expecting  to  fee  the  militia  fly,  like  frightened 
rats  from  an  old  barn  on  fire.  But,  very  contrary  to  his  hopes, 
the  Provincials  flood  their  ground  as  though  they  grew  to  the  foil, 
and  levelling  their  eighteen  pounders  with  good  aim,  they  bored 
the  rniniflerial  fhips  through  and  through  at  every  fire.  Their 
third  broadfide  cut  the  fprings  of  the  Commodore's  cables,  To  that 
fwinging  around,  flern  on,  towards  the  fort,  flic  was  raked  fore 
and  aft,  moft  dreadfully.  The  Daughter  on  board  the  fhips  was 
very  great.  The  quarter-deck  of  the  Briftol  (the  Commodore's 
fhip)  was  at  one  time  cleared  of  every  foul,  except  the  Commo- 
dore himfelf,  whofe  small  clothes  were  rudely  torn  off  by  a  cannon 
ball.  So  that  Sir  Peter  was  the  fir&  Sans  Culotte  ever  heard  of  in 
Amerir.a.  Would  to  God  be  bad  been  the  last. 

The  heroes  in  the  fort  won  immortal  honour.  One  brave  fellow, 
a  Serjeant,  obferving  the  flag  Staif  fhot  away,  jumped  down  from 
the  fort  on  the  beach,  in  the  hottefl  fury  of  the  battle,  fnatchcd 
up  the  flag,  and  having  returned  it  to  its  place,  Streaming  defiance, 
waved  his  hat  with  a — Hurra,  my  boys,  God  save  Washington  and 
America  forever,"  Congrefs  rewarded  him  with  a  fword.  Ano- 
ther, while  roaring  away  with  his  18  pounder,  was  terribly  Shat- 
tered by  a  cannon  ball.  When  about  to  expire,  he  lifted  up  his 
dying  eyes  and  faid — "  My  brave  Countrymen,  I  die,  but  don't 
let  the  cause  of  Liberty  die  with  me"  No\v  louder  and  louder, 
Itill  peal  on  peal,  the  American  thunder  burlt  forth  with  earth 


trembling  crafhes  ;  and  the  Britifh  fhips,  after  a  long  and  gallant 
llruggle,  hauled  off  with  a  good  fortnights  worth  of  work  for 
Surgeons,  Carpenters  and  Splicers. 

About  this  time  the  great  queflion  of  Independence,  was  propo- 
fed  in  Congrefs.  The  honourable  Samuel  Chafe,  Efq.  the  De- 
mofthenes  of  Maryland,  was  the  firft  who  had  the  honor  to  fay 
on  the  floor  of  Congrefs,  that,  be  owed  no  allegiance  to  the  King  of 
Great  Britain"  On  the  ever  memorable  4th  of  July,  1776,  the 
United  States  were  declared  A  FREE  AND  INDEPENDENT  NATION. 
God  Almighty  grant  us  virtue  enough,  for  ever  to  live  f o  1 1  ! 

A  few  days  after  this,  Lord  Howe  came  upon  the  coafl  with  a 
huge  forefl  of  men  of  war  and  tranfports,  lhading  far  and  wide 
the  frightened  ocean,  and  bearing  nearly  forty  thoufand  men,  Bri- 
tifh, Heflians  and  Waldeckers.  Suppofmg  that  this  had  intimida- 
ted the  American  commander,  Lord  Howe  wrote  a  letter  to  him, 
directed  "  to  George  Washington,  Esq."  This  Wafhington  refu- 
fed  to  receive,  looking  on  it  as  an  infult  to  Congrefs,  under  whom 
he  had  the  honour  to  bear  the  commifilon  of  Commander  in  Chief, 
and  fhould  have  been  addrefled  as  fuch.  General  Howe  then  fent 
an  officer  to  converfe  with  him  on  the  fubjecl  of  reconciliation- — 
Having  heard  what  he  had  to  fay,  Wafhington  replied,  "  by  what 
has  yet  appeared,  fir,  you  have  no  power  but  to  grant  pardons  ; 
but  we,  who  have  committed  no  faults,  want  no  pardons,  for  we 
are  fighting  only  for  our  rights,  as  the  defcendants  of  Englifh- 


men." 


The  unfortunate  defeat,  of  Long-Ifland,  now  took  place,  on 
Augufl  28th,  which  though  the  hottest  fay  in  the  year,  hadlike  to 
have  been  the  freezing  point  in  the  American  affairs.  For,  on 
this  day,  the  Britilh,  with  an  infinite  fuperiority  of  force,  after 
having  defeated  the  Americans  with  great  lofs,  were  invefting  the 
flender  remains  of  their  army,  and  had  actually  broke  ground 
within  fix  hundred  yards  of  the  little  redoubt  that  feebly  covered 
their  front.  Soon  as  it  was  dark  Wafhington  ordered  the  troops 
to  convey  their  baggage  and  artillery  to  the  water  fide,  whence  it 
was  transported  over  a  broad  ferry  all  night  long,  with  amazing 
filence  and  order.  Providentially  a  thick  fog  continued  next  morn- 
ing till  ten  o'clock  ;  when  that  patted  away,  and  the  fun  broke  oin% 
the  Britifh  were  equally  furprifcd  and  enraged  to  fee  the  rear  guard 
with  the  lad  of  the  baggage,  in  their  boats  and  out  of  all  danger. 

Lord  Howe,  fuppofmg  that  fuch  a  run  of  misfortunes  muft  have 
put  Congrefs  into  a  good  humour  to  think  about  peace,  fignified  a 
willingnefs  to  have  a  grand  talk  on  the  fubje6l.  Congrefs  fent  Dr. 
Franklin,  Mr.  Adams,  and  Mr.  Rutledge,  each  with  his  belt  of 
wampum.  But  finding  that  frs  lordfhip  was  ftill  harping  on  the  old 
firing,  pardons*  pardo n s  ;  not  liking  fuch  mufic,  they  took  up  their 
hats,  and  very  erectly  ftalked  off.  Towards  the  clofe  of  this  try- 


ing  campaign,  it  is  a  facl:,  that  Wafhington  had  not  5,000  men,  and 
even  thefe  were  fo  deftitute  of  necessaries,  that  nothing  but  their 
love  and  veneration  of  him  kept  them  together.  And  with  this 
handful  he  had  to  oppofe  a  victorious  army  of  nearly  fifty  thoufand 
veterans !  I  But  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Hofts,  was  with  him,  and 
oft'  times,  in  the  ear  of  the  flumbering  hero,  his  voice  was  heard, 
4t  fear  not,  for  lam  with  thee,  be  not  dismayed,  for  I  am  thy  God" — > 
Hence,  under  all  the  diiheartening  circumftances  of  this  campaign, 
Wafhington  not  only  kept  up  his  own  fpirits,  but  checr'd  thofe  of 
his  drooping  comrades.  u  Never  despond,  my  friends,"  faid  he  "  let 
41  matters  come  to  the  worst,  we  can  but  retire  over  the  mountains, 
44  whence  we  shall  never  lack  opportunities  to  barrass,  and  finally  to 
44  expel  the  enemies  of  our  country ."  Hearing  his  officers  talking  one 
day  about  the  gloominefs  of  the  American  affairs,  he  humouroufly 
clapfed  his  neck  with  his  hands,  and  faid  with  a  fmile,  "  I  really 
cannot  believe  yet  that  my  neck  was  ever  made  for  a  halter" 

For  four  months,  during  the  fummer  and  fall  of  '76,  the  Amerir 
cans  had  been  obliged  to  retreat  before  the  enemy,  who  had  now 
•  completely  over-run  the  Jerfeys,  filling  every  town  andhamletwith 
their  victorious  red-coats,  Wafhington  hovered  around  them,  wait- 
ing for  an  opportunity  to  ftrike.  An  opportunity  foon  offered. — : 
Learning  that  the  enemy,  at  Trenton,  (in  number  about  2,OOO, 
chiefly  Heflians)  were  lulled  into  that  ftate  of  fecurity  which  fre- 
quent victories  and  contempt  of  an  enemy  too  naturally  hifpire  ;  he 
formed  the  defign  to  furprife  them.  Chriftmas  night  ('76)  was 
pitched  on  for  the  purpofe.  Having  divided  his  little  force  into 
three  bodies,  he  gave  the  command  of  two  of  thefet  to  generals 
Ewing  and  Gadwallader,  w^th  orders  to  crofs  the  river  juft  be  lorn 
Trenton.  Aflifted  by  gen.  Greene,  Wafhington  himfelf  led  the 
principal  body  over  M'Konky's  ferry,  9  miles  above.  It  was  his 
plan  to  reach  town  about  day  break  ;  but,  by  reafon  of  the  immenfe 
quantities  of  ice  in  the  river,  and  a  violent  ftorm  of  hail  and  fhow, 
he  did  not  arrive  till  8  o'clock.  The  troops  under  Cadwallader  and 
Ewing,  could  not  crofs  at  all.  The  inftant  before  the  attack,  he 
animated  his  men  by  the  following  fpeech : 

44  My  brave  countrymen — Now  is  the  important  moment  to  ftrike 
<4  a  blow,  which,  however  inconfiderable  in  appearance,  n?ay  draw 
44  after  it  confequences  the  moft  defirable  and  glorious.  When, 
44  therefore,  you  come  to  the  charge,  give  me,  which  is  all  I  afk 
44  on  earth,  to  fee  you  behave  like  men  who  are  fighting  for  coun- 
44  try,  for  liberty,  and  for  life.  For  my  own  part,  I  folemnlyvow 
44  to  God,  that  I  will  never  furvive  a  defeat,  if  that  defeat  be  ow- 
44  ing  to  any  inattention  to  your  welfare."  He  would  have  proceed- 
ed, but  was  interrupted  by  the  eager  cries  of  his  men — u  Lead  us 
*c  on — \ea(i  us  on  to  the  enemy."  In  an  inftant,  like  lightning,  they 
earn*  pp  with  the  out-guards,  and  pouring  in  their  fire,  drove  them 


(         15         ) 

back  into  town,  feized  their  artillery,  and  were  on  the  eve  of  dif- 
charging  on  their  main  body,  a  ftorm  of  cannon  and  mufquet  balls, 
wlfen  they  prudently  threw  down  their  arms  and  cried  out  for  quar- 
ter. The  brave  col.  Rhal,  with  40  of  his  men,  were  killed,  and 
1 000  taken  prifoners.  The  reft,  at  the  beginning  of  the  action  took 
down  the  road  to  Bordentown,  and  fo  cleared  themfelves.  If  Ew- 
ing  and  Cadwallader  could  but  have  crofled  the  river,  and  feized 
the  Trenton  bridge  according  to  Wafliington's  orders,  the  whole  of 
the  British  forces  at  Trenton,  Bordentown  and  Burlington,  would 
have  been  as  completely  taken  as  ever  was  a  gang  of  partridges  in  a 
fowler's  net.  However,  this  bold  flroke  threw  gen.  Howe  into 
fuch  a  tremor,  that  he  inftantly  called  off  all  his  cantonments  from 
the  Delaware  to  Brunfwick  and  Amboy,  within  the  welcome  fight 
and  fmell  of  their  men  of  war. 

Tho'  this  victory  was  gained  on  the  26th  of  December,  and  Waili- 
ington,  in  order  to  animate  his  countrymen,  had  marched  his  pri- 
foners to  Philadelphia,  yet  we  find  him  again,  on  the  1ft  of  January, 
acrofs  the  angry  Delaware,  and  railing  aloft  his  country's  flag,  bold- 
waving  over  the  heights  of  Trenton.  Lord  Cornwallis  advanced 
to  attack  him.  Finding  that  the  enemy,  greatly  fuperior  in  num- 
bers, were  endeavouring  to  furround  him,  and  feeing  no  poflibility, 
on  account  of  the  ice,  to  re-crofs  the  Delaware,  Walhington  was 
obliged  again  to  recur  to  ftratagem,  of  which  no  general,  perhaps, 
ever  had  a  larger  flock.  He  kept  up  a  heavy  cannonade  on  the  ene- 
my till  night,  then  lighting  a  vaft  number  of  fires,  and  leaving 
guards  at  the  bridges,  he  puflied  off  about  midnight  for  Princeton, 
and  at  fun-rife,  came  down  upon  another  heavy  body  of  the  Britim, 
who  had  juft  ftruck  their  tents,  and  were  coming  on  in  high  fpirits 
to  attack  him  at  Trenton.  To  it,  in  a  moment,  both  parties  fell 
like  heroes.  Flam  and  clam  went  the  mufquets  and  bayonets. — 
Here  the  fervants  of  George,  and  there  the  fons  of  liberty  wrapped 
in  fulphurous  clouds  and  torrid  flame,  together  ruih'd  to  mutual 
wounds  and  death, 

"  God  fave  the  king,  the  Britifh  heroes  cry'd, 

ic  And  Ciod  for  Waftiington !  Columbia's  fons  reply'd." 

The  great  name  of  Wafhington  imparted  its  ufual  animation  to 
his  troops.  The  enemy  gave  way  in  all  quarters,  and  were  purfued 
4  miles.  The  victors  returned  with  4OO  prifoners ;  the  bayonet  had 
ftopp'd  120  on  the  field.  But  they  fell  not  alone.  The  gallant 
Mercer,  and  63  of  his  brave  countrymen,  fleep  with  them.  But 
the  ilrife  of  the  heroes  was  but  for  a  moment ;  and  they  have  for- 
gotten their  wounds.  Together  now,  they  feaft  in  Paraclife,  and 
when  meet  their  eyes  of  love,  their  joys  are  not  daflied  by  re- 
membrance of  the  paft. 


C         16         ) 

The  Britifh  officers  gave  our  Wafhington  full  credit  for  fuch  fine 
ftrokes  of  generalihip,  and  began  to  look  thoughtful  whenever  his 
name  was  mentioned. 

The  enemy  now  (January  15th)  drew  in  all  their  forces  to  winter- 
quarters  at  Brunfwick,  where  Waftiington  continued  to  thin  their 
number  by  cutting  off  their  foraging  parties  ;  fo  that  every  load  of 
hay,  or  difh  of  turnips  they  got,  was  at  the  price  of  blood. 

Thus  glorioufly,1  in  ten  days,  was  turn'd  the  tide  of  victory  in 
favour  of  America,  by  him  whom  heaven,  in  mercy,  not  to  Ame- 
rica alone,  but  to  Britain  and  to  the  world,  had  raifed  up  to  found 
here  a  wide  empire  of  liberty  and  virtue.  The  character  of  Wafh- 
ington  was  exalted  to  the  higheft  pitch,  even  throughout  Europe, 
where  he  was  generally  ftyled  the  American  Fabius,  from  the  fa- 
mous Roman  general  of  that  name,  who  oppofed  Hannibal  with 
fuccefs.  A  diitinction  to  which  he  was  juftly  entitled,  from  the 
invincible  firmnefs  with  which  he  rejected  every  bait  and  fineffe  of 
the  Britifh  generals  j  as  alfo,  from  that  admirable  judgment  with 
which  he  fuited  the  defence  of  his  country  to  the  genius  and  abili- 
ties of  the  people,  and  to  the  natural  advantages  of  the  country  it- 
felf ;  thereby  not  allowing  the  enemy  to  profit  by  their  great  fupe- 
riority  of  numbers,  discipline,  and  artillery,  and  conftantly  cutting 
them  off  by  fkirmifhes  andfurprife. 

The  minifterial  plan  for  this  year  (1777)  was  to  reduce  the  Ame- 
ricans, by  cutting  off  all  communication  between  the  northern  and 
fouthern  ftates  !  !  To  effect  this,  general  Howe,  with  20,000  men, 
was  to  go  round  from  New-York  to  the  Head-of-Elk,  and  thence 
march  on,  due  north,  thro'  Philadelphia,  while  general  Burgoyne, 
with  10,000  men,  fettingout  from  Canada,  was  to  pafs  along  down 
the  lakes,  and  thence  due  fouth  to  meet  his  brother  Howe  ;  the 
flrait  line,  formed  by  the  junction  of  thefe  two  gentlemen,  was  to 
poffefs  fuch  virtue,  that,  it  was  fuppofed,  no  American  could  ever 
be  found  hardy  enough  to  fet  foot  over  it !  I 

Accordingly,  July  23,  general  Howe  left  Sandy -Hook,  failed  up 
the  Chefapeakc,  and  landing  at  the  mouth  of  Elk-River,  marched 
on  with  but  little  interruption,  except  at  Brandywine,  to  Philadel- 
phia. Into  this  elegant  city,  on  the  26th  of  September,  1777,  he 
entered  in  triumph;  fondly  fuppofmg,  that,  in  America  as  in  Eu- 
rope, the  capture  of  the  city  was  the  fame  thing  as  the  reduction 
of  the  country.  But,  inftead  of  finding  himfelf  mailer  of  this 
great  continent,  whofe  rattle-fnakes  alone,  in  the  hand  of  heaven, 
could  fcourge  his  prefumption ;  it  was  with  no  fmall  difficulty  he 
could  keep  poffeilion  of  the  little  village  of  Germantown.  For,  on 
the  morning  of  the  4th  of  October,  Wafhington  made  an  attack  on 
him  with  fuch  judgment  and  fury,  that  his  troops  gave  way  in  every 
quarter.  u  'The  tumult,  disorder  and  despair  in  the  British  army" 
fays  Wafhington,  "  were  unparalleled*"  But,  in  the  very  moment 


(      ir      ) 

of  the  ttioft  decifive  and  glorious  victory,  when  fonie  of  the  pro* 
vincial  regiments  had  more  prifoners  than  men,  the  Americans  be- 
gan to  retreat!!  Waihington's  grief  and  mortification  were  inex- 
preflible. 

But  while  he  was  annoying  the  enemy  by  land,  he  did  not  lofe 
fight  of  their  fleet,  which  was  now  forcing  its  way  up  the  Delaware* 
to  keep  open  to  the  army  a  channel  of  fupplies.  They  arrived,  with- 
out moleftation,  within  8  miles  of  Philadelphia,  at  a  marm  called 
Mud-Ifland.     On  this  poor  harmlefs  fpot,  the  fitteft,  however,  that 
nature  in  this  peaceful  land  of  Friends  could  furnifh,  Wafhington 
had  ordered  a  fort  to  be  thrown  up,  the  command  of  which,  with  23O 
men,  he  afiigned  to  lieutenant-colonel  Sam.  Smith.  On  the  eaftern 
or  Jerfey  fide  of  the  river,  at  a  place  called  Red-Bank,  he  ordered 
aflrong  redoubt,  the  command  of  which,  with  205  men,  was  given 
to  Col.  Greene.    Thefe,  with  fome  chevaux-de-frize  funk  in  the 
river,  and  a  few  gallies,  formed  all  the  barrier  that  Wafhington, 
could  prefent  againft  the  Britifh  navy.  The  flrength  of  this  barrier, 
was  foon  put  to  a  fiery  trial.     Great  preparations  were  made  to  at- 
tack the  Americans,  at  the  fame  inftant,  both  by  land  and  water* — 
Count  Donop,  with  a  hoft  of  Heflians,  was  fent  over  to  be  in  rea- 
dinefs  to  attack  Red-Bank,  while  the  tide  of  flood,  groaning  under 
their  enormous  weight,  brought  up  the  men  of  war.     The  morn- 
ing was  ftill,  and  the  heavens  overcaft  with  fad  clouds,  as  of  nature 
fympathifing  with  her  children,  and  ready  to  drop  fhowers  of  celeT- 
tial  pity  on  their*ftrifes.     No  fooner  had  the  (hips  floated  up  within 
three  cables  length  of  the  fort,  than  they  began  a  moft  tremendous 
cannonade  :  while  cannon  balls  and  fire-tailed  bombs,  like  comets, 
fell  upon  it  thick  as  hail.     The  gallant  Smith  and  his  myrmidons 
flood  the  fhock  to  a  miracle,  and  like  men  fighting  under  the  eye 
of  their  Washington,  drove  the  two  and  thirty  pounders  through 
them  with  fuch  fpirit  and  fuccefs,  that,  in  a  little  time,  the  Auguf- 
ta,  a  heavy  64  gun  (hip,  took  fire  and  blew  up,  the  horrid  balloon  . 
of  the  greateft  part  of  the  crew.     Another  (hip,  called  the  Merlin, 
or  Black-Bird^  foon  got  on  the  wing,  and  followed  the  Augufla. 

At  the  fame  moment,  Col.  Donop,  with  his  Heflians,  made  a  gal- 
lant attack  on  the  fort  at  Red-Bank.  After  a  few  and  well  directed 
fires,  Greene  and  his  men  artfully  retired  from  the  cut-works.  The 
enemy  now  fuppofing  the  day  their  own,  ruihed  on  in  vaft  numbers 
along  a  large  opening  in  the  fort,  and  within  twenty  fteps  of  a  maf- 
ked  battery  of  18  pounders  loaded  with  grape-mot  and  fpike  nails. 
All  at  once,  Hellitfelf  feemed  to  open  before  their  affrighted  view. 
But  their  pains  and  their  terrors  were  but  for  a  moment.  Toge- 
ther down  they  funk  by  hundreds,  into  the  fweet  (lumbers  of  death, 
fcarcely  fenfible  of  the  fatal  blow  that  deprived  them  of  lift-. 
Heaps  on  heaps  the  flaughter'd  Heflians  lie  : 
Brave  Greene  beholds  them  with  a  tearful  eye. 

C 


(          18         ) 

Far  now  from  home,  and  from  their  native  more, 
They  fleep  in  death  and  hear  of  wars  no  more." 

Poor  Donop  was  mortally  wounded  and  taken  prifoner.  The 
attentions  of  the  American  officers,  and  particularly  the  kind  con- 
dolance  of  the  Godlike  Wafhington,  quite  overcame  him  ;*  and 
his  laft  moments  were  deeped  in  tears  of  regret,  for  having  left  his 
native  land,  to  fight  a  diftant  people  who  had  never  injured  him. 

After  fix  weeks  of  infinite  fatigue,  with  great  lofs  of  men  and 
money,  the  Britifh  forced  a  paflage  large  enough  for  their  provifioii 
fliips  to  Philadelphia,  where  general  Howe  and  his  officers  held 
their  balls  this  winter ;  while  16  miles  diftant,  the  great  Wafh ing- 
ton,  well.pleafed  with  his  campaign,  retired  and  hutted  it  at  Valley- 
Forge. 

While  fuch  ill  fuccefs  attended  this  part  of  the  minifterial  plan, 
viz.  to  choak  the  colonies  by  a  military  noose •,  fo  tightly  drawn  from 
Chefapeake  to'  Champlain,  as  to  Hop  all  circulation  between  the  nor- 
thern and  fouthern  ftates  ;  a  worfe  fate  frowned  on  their  attempt  in 
the  north.  General  Burgoyne,  with  1O,000  veterans,  befides  a  hofl 
of  Canadians  and  Indians,  iffuing  forth  from  Canada  in  June  '77 
came  pouring  along  down  the  lakes,  like  the  thundering  Niagara, 
with  an  impetuofity  that  fwept  every  thing  before  it.  The  hatchets  of 
the  Indians  were  drunk  with  American  blood.  No  age,  no  fex 
could  foften  them.  The  widow's  wail,  the  virgin's  fliriek,  and 
infant's  trembling-  cry,  was  niulk:  in  their  ears.  In  cold  blood  they 
flrudft  their  cruel  tomahawks  into  the  defencelefs  head  of  a  Mifs 
Me  Rae,  a  beautiful  girl,  who  was  that  very  day  to  have  been  mar- 
ried I  Such  a6ts  of  inhumanity  called  forth  the  fierceft  indignation 
of  the  Americans,  and  infpired  that  desperate  resolution  of  which 
the  human  heart  is  capable,  but  which  no  human  force  can  conquer. 
The  New-Englanders,  who  were  neareft  to  thefe  infernal  fcenes, 
turned  out  in  mafs.  Wafhington  hurried  on  Gates  and  Arnold 
with  their  furious  legions  ;  and  to  thefe  he  joined  the  immortal  Mor- 
gan with  his  dreadful  phalanx,  1000  riflemen,  whofe  triggers  were 
never  touched  in  vain,  but  could  throw  a  ball  a  hundred  yards  at  a 
fquirrel's  head  and  never  mifs. 

The  firft  check  given  to  Burgoyne's  career,  was  at  Bennington* 
Hearing  that  the  Americans  had  laid  up  large  provifions  in  that 
town,  he  detached  a  Col.  Baum,  with  600  Germans,  to  furprife  it ; 
and,  at  the  fame  time,  polled  CoL  Breyman  in  the  neighbourhood, 
with  an  equal  number,  to  fupport  him  if  neceflary.  Finding  the 

*  On  hearing  of  his  misfortune,  Wafliington  fcnt  an  officer  to  condole  with  him- 
The  officer  was  conducted  to  his  apartment  and  delivered  the  meflage.  The  wounded 
count  appeared  much  afFe£ed — a  tear  fwelled  in  his  eye — and  he  faid  to  the  officer, 
prtfent  to  general  Wajklnaton  the  thanks  of  an  unfortunate  brother  fold'ur — tell  him  I  expect  to  riff 
xo  viort — but  i  thai  if  IJkould,  tbefrjl  exertion  vftnyjlrengtbjkallbc)  to  return  Lim  my  thanks  in 
ftrfca. 


(         19         ) 

place  too  well  guarded  either  for  furprife  or  ftorm,  Baum  fortified 
himfelf  at  a  little  diftance,  and  fent  back  for  Breyman.  The  Ame- 
rican commander,  the*brave  general  Starke,  thinking  thefe  enemies 
fully  enough,  at  leaft  not  wiihing  for  any  more,  fallied  out,  and  with 
great  fury  attacked  Baum's  intrenchments.  At  the  firft  onfet,  the 
Canadians  and  Britifh  markfmen  took  to  their  heels,  and  left  the 
poor  Germans  in  the  lurch.  After  a  gallant  refiftance,  Baum  was 
mortally  wounded,  and  his  brave  countrymen  killed  or  taken  to  a 
man.  In  the  mean  time,  Breyman,  who  had  not  heard  a  fyllablc 
of  all  this,  arrived  at  the  place  of  action,  where,  inftead  of  the 
cheering  huzzas  of  joyful  friends,  he  was  faluted,  on  all  hands, 
with  the  deadly  whizzing  of  rifle-bullets.  After  receiving  a  few 
clofe  andfcorching  fires,  the  Germans  were  fain  to  trythe^nlhanks. 
The  neighbouring  woods,  with  night's  fable  curtains,  enabled  the 
fugitives  to  fave  their  bacon,  for  that  time  at  leaih  The  enemy  loft 
in  thefe  two  engagements  not  lefs  than  800  men,  in  killed,  wound- 
ed, and  prifoners. 

About  the  fame  time,  a}I  their  forts  on  the  lakes  were  furprifed 
— Col.  St.  Leger  was  defeated  at  Fort-Stanwix — the  Indians  began 
to  defert — Arnold  and  Morgan  were  coming  up  like  mountain- 
ftorms — and  the  militia  from  all  quarters  were  pouring  in.  Bur- 
goyne  began  to  be  alarmed,  and  wrote  to  New- York  for  help  ;  but, 
finding  that  Clinton  could  give  him  none,  and  that  the  falvution  of 
his  army  depended  on  themfelves,  he  gallantly  determined,  on  the 
7th  of  October,  1777,  to  flake  his  all  on  the  caft  of  a  general  bat- 
tle. 

His, army,  in  high  fpirits,  was  formed  within  a  mile  of  the  A- 
merican  camp.  Burgoyne  himfelf,  with  the  flower  of  the  Briliih 
troops,  compofed  the  centre — brigadier-general  Frazer  commanded 
the  left — the  Germans,  headed  by  major-generals  Phillips  and 
Reidfdel,  and  Col.  Breyman,  formed  the  right.  With  a  fine  train 
of  artillery,  flying  colours,  and  a  full  roll  of  martial  mufic,  from 
wing  to  wing  the  to  w'ring  heroes  moved.  On  the  other  hand,j£ra/ 
with  the  love  of  Liberty,  the  Americans  poured  out  by  thpuiands, 
eager  for  the  glorious  conteil.  Their  dear  country's  flag  waves 
over  their  heads  ;  the  thoughts  of  the  warriors  are  on  their  children^ 
and  on  the  chains  now  forging  for  their  tender  hands.  The  aveng- 
ing paffions  rife  and  the  battle  moves.  On  either  fide  the  thundering 
cannon  begin  to  make  the  folid  earth,  while,  from  hofl  to  hod,  the 
long  black  pillars  of  fmoke,  and  glaring  flame,  enwrap  the  dreadful 
field.  The  action  fell  with  utmofl  fury  on  the  centre  of  the  Bri- 
tifh  army,  and  extending  along  the  left  wing.  The  grenadiers  behav- 
ed with  their  ufual  gallantry,  but  were  obliged  to  give  way.  Per- 
ceiving that  they  were  finking  under  the  weight  of  the  American 
fire,  Gates  ordered  a  ftrongbody  to  march  round  their  flank,  while 
Morgan,  with  a  heavy  reinforcement,  haftened  to  the  left  to  decide 


the  a£iion  there.  Thefe  charges  were  made  with  fuch  impetuofity, 
that  the  enemy  were  thrown  into  the  utmofl  confufion.  To  fave 
them  from  total  deftru&ion,  the  brave  general  Frazer  flew  to  their 
afftftance.  In  this  attempt  he  loft  his  life,  and  great  numbers  of 
His  men  were  flam.  The  fituation  of  this  part  of  the  royal  army 
becoming  now  exceedingly  critical,  and  the  danger  encreafing  every 
moment,  a  retreat  was  ordered.  But  fcarcely  had  they  entered 
their  camp,  when  the  Americans  ito-rmed  it  with  all  the  fury  of  lions  ; 
with  trailed  arms  ruming  to  the  charge  through  a  feve're  fire  of  grape- 
fhot  and  mufquetry.  The  Britifh  fought  with  equal  defperation, 
for  theirs//  was  at  flake,  arid  the  Americans,  like  a  whelming  flood, 
were  burfting  over  their  entrenchments,  and,  hand  to  hand,  with 
argumeiy^of  bloody  fteel,  were  pleading  the  caufe  of  ages  yet  un- 
born. For  fome  time  the  mortal  ilrife  was  maintained,  on  both 
fides,  with  a  bravery  that  was  never  exceeded.  But,  in  that  mo- 
ment of  danger  and  of  glory,  the  impetuous  Arnold,  who  led  them 
on,  was  dangeroufly  wounded  and  forced  to  retire,  and  feveral  re- 
giments of  Britifh  infantry  pouring  in  to  the  afliftance  of  their  gal- 
lant comrades,  the  Americans,  after  many  hard  ftruggles,  were  fi- 
nally repulfed.  In  another  quarter,  where  the  ftrength  of  the  Ger- 
mans fought,  the  Americans,  led  on  by  Morgan,  carried  the  en- 
trenchments fword  in  hand.  Col.  Breyman,  with  the  greateft  part 
of  his  countrymen,  were  killed,  and  their  baggage,  tents  and  artil- 
lery, all  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  conquerors.  This  was  a  bloody 
day  to  both  armies  ;  but  fo  peculiarly  difheartening  to  the  Britifh, 
that  they  were  obliged  to  retreat  that  night  to  Saratoga,  where,  in 
a  few  days,  (on  the  13th  of  October,  1777,)  they  furrendered  to 
Gates  and  the  Americans,  by  whom  they  were  treated  with  a  ge- 
nerofity  that  perfectly  aflonimed  them.  For,  when  the  Britifh  were 
marched  out  to  lay  down  their  arms,  there  was  not  an  American  to 
be  feen )  They'had  all  nobly  retired,  for  a  moment,  as  if  unwil- 
ling to  give  the  pain,  even  to  their  enemies,  of  being  fpe6lators  of 
fo  humiliating  afcene  !  Worthy  countrymen  of  Wafhington  !  this 
deed  of  your's  fhall  out-live  the  flars ;  and  the  bleft  Sun  himfelf, 
smiling,  ihall  proclaim,  that  in  the  wide  travel  of  his  beams,  he 
never  looked  upon  its  like  before. 

Thus,  glorioufly  for  America,  ended  the  campaign  of  '77.  '78 
began  as  aufpicioufly.  In  May,'  Silas  Deane  arrived  from  France 
with  the  welcome  news  of  a  treaty  with  that  powerful  people,  and 
a  letter  from  Lewis  XVI.  to  Congrefs,  whom  he  ftyled — Very  dear 
great  Jrhnds  and  allies.  On  the  6th  of  June  commiOioners  arrived 
from  Britain  with  lord  North's  conciliatory  plan,  wherein  was  offer- 
ed every  thing  that  America  once  contended  for,  or  coveted.  But 
things  were  now  gone  too  far  to  admit  of  the  idea  of  reconciliation 
<hn  any  bafis  fhort  of  independence*  Negociation  was,  of  courfe, 


C          21          ) 

at  an  end  on  the  part  of  Britain,  who  took  inftantly  to  the  fword 
again. 

On  the  18th  of  June  the  Britifh  army,  now  under  the  command 
of  Clinton,  evacuated  Philadelphia  for  New- York.  The  figure 
they  made  on  the  road  had  fomething  the  air  of  the  sublime  ;  for 
their  baggage,  loaded  horfes,  and  carriages,  formed  a  line  not  lefs 
than  twelve  miles  in  length.  Gen.  Waihington,  whofe  eye,  like 
that  of  the  facred  dragon,  was  always  open  and  fixed  upon  the  ene- 
mies of  America,  immediately  croffed  the  Delaware  alter  them— 
puihed  on  detached  corps  to  obftrucl  their  advance — gall  their 
flanks — and  fall  on  their  rear,  while  he  himfelf  moved  on  with  the 
body  of  the  army.  By  the  27th,  Clinton  had  got  on  as  far  as  Mon- 
mouth,  and  Wafhington's  troops  were  clofe  on  his  flank  and  rear. 
Next  morning  he  ordered  general  Lee,  with  5000  men,  to  begin 
the  attack;  himfelf  moving  on  brifkly  to  fupport  him.  But,  to  his 
aftonifhment,  as  he  advanced  he  met  Lee  retreating,  and  the  ene- 
my impetuoufly  purfuing.  Here  Wafhington  was  feen  in  all  his 
fplendor ;  for  the  moment  of  danger  and  confufion  was  always  the 
orb  in  which  he  fhone  the  brighteft.  At  fight  of  him  his  troops 
recovered  their  wonted  fpirits,  and  wheeled  around  furioufly  to  the 
charge.  The  enemy,  finding  themfelves  now  warmly  oppofed  in 
front,  made  an  attempt  to  turn  his  left  flank,  but  were  gallantly  at- 
tacked and  driven  back.  They  then  made  a  rapid  pufh  to  the  right, 
but  the  brave  Greene,  with  a  choice  body  of  troops  and  artillery, 
repulfed  them  with  confiderable  (laughter.  At  the  fame  inftant, 
Wayne  advanced  with  his  Game  Chickens,*  and  poured  in  fo  fevere 
and  well  directed  a  fire,  that  the  enemy  were  glad  to  get  back  to 
their  defiles.  Morgan's  rifles  were  full  hot  that  day.  Wafhington 
and  his  heroes  lay  upon  their  arms  all  night,  refolved  to  fall  on  the 
enemy  the  moment  they  mould  attempt  their  retreat  next  morning. 
But  during  the  night  they  moved  off  in  silence,  and  got  fuch  a  ftart 
that  Waihington  thought  it  dangerous,  in  fuch  hot  weather,  to 
make  a  pufh  after  them.  Wafhington  loft  58  killed — 140  wounded. 
The  Britifh  had  249  killed,  and  the  wounded  in  proportion.  Num- 
bers, on  both  fides,  died  of  the  extreme  beat,  and  cold  water. 

In  September  1780,  an  attempt  was  made  to  take  off  our  Wafh- 
ington, and  by  means  which  I  can  hardly  believe  the  old  Britifh 
Lion  was  ever  well  pleafed  with.  The  brave  general  Arnold,  hav- 
ing been  appointed  to  the  government  of  Philadelphia,  was,  alas  I 
over-perfuaded  by  the  devil  to  make  a  shaving  affair  of  it ;  but, 
unfkilled  in  the  life  of  the  fwindling  razor,  he  unfortunately  cut 
many  of  his  cuftomers,  fo  near  the  quick,  that  they  never  gave 
over  bawling  until  they  had  gotten  him  into  the  ftar-chamber.  Con- 
grefs,  unwilling  to  expofe  the  man  who  had  fought  fo  bravely  in  the 

*  Every  body  has  heard  of  Paoli. 


(         22         ) 

caufe  of  liberty,  thought  they  would  make  what  the  rauficians  call, 
a  piano  slur  of  it,  and  be  done  with  it ;  for  it  was  a  piece  of  vile 
difcord  to  generous  American  ears.  For  the  fame  reafon,  the 
god-like  Wafhington  hurried  it  over,  and  after  a  gentle  reprimand 
of  Arnold,  gave  him  the  command  of  Weft-Point,  with  a  large 
body  of  American  troops  !  The  hiftory  of  Arnold's  embarraffments 
and  his  quarrel  with  his  countrymen,  foon  got  down  to  New- York 
to  the  Britifh  commander,  who,  well  knowing  the  ticklifh  fituation 
of  aproud  man  caught  on  the  horns  of  poverty,  fends  him  up  a  ma- 
jor Andre,  with  money  in  his  pocket.  The  major,  by  means  yet 
unknown  to  the  public,  got  near  enough  to  Arnold  to  probe  him, 
and,  alas !  found  him,  both  in  principle  and  purfe,  hollow  as  an 
exhaufted  receiver,  and  very  willing  to  be  filled  up  with  Englifh 
guineas.  Englifh  guineas  are  offered  him,  and  Arnold  agrees, 
Oh!  {hocking  to  humanity!  Arnold  agrees  to  facrifice  Wafhington 
to  the  Britifh !  To  be  certified  of  this  delightful  truth,  Andre,  dur- 
ing Wafhington's  abfence  from  Weft-Point,  comes  afhore  from  a 
floop  of  war,  with  a  furtout  over  his  regimentals,  fpends  a  day  and 
night  with  Arnold,  fees,  with  his  own  eyes,  the  dear  train  laid, 
the  matches  lighted,  and  every  thing  in  readinefs,  a  few  nights 
hence,  to  fend  the  old  Virginia  farmer  and  his  republic  a-packing. 
Every  thing  being  fettled  to  fatisfaction,  Andre  wifhes  to  fet  off  to 
carry  the  glad  news  to  general  Clinton  ;  but,  behold !  by  a  fine 
ftroke  of  Providential  interference,  he  cannot  get  on  board  the 
fhip  ! !  Arnold  gives  him  a  horfe  and  a  pafs  to  go  to  New- York  by 
land.  Under  the  name  of  Anderfon  he  paffes,  in  fafety,  all  the 
guards.  Now,  like  an  uncaged  bird,  and  light  as  the  air  he 
breathes,  he  fweeps  along  the  road.  His  fame  brightens  before 
Kim — ftars  and  garters,  coaches  and  caftles,  dance  before  his  de- 
lighted fancy — even  his  long-loved,  reluctant  Delia  (Mifs  Seward) 
is  all  bis  own — she  joins  in  tbe  nation's  gratitude — foftly  fhe  rolls 
her  eye  of  love,  and,  brightening  in  all  her  beauty,  fmks  on  his  en- 
raptured breaft !  In  the  midft  of  thefe  too  happy  thoughts,  he  is 
met  by  three  young  militia-men  :  Though  not  on  duty,  they  chal- 
lenge him  ;  he  anfwers  by  the  name  of  Anderfon,  fhews  his  pafs 
and  bounds  away.  Here  the  guardian  genius  of  Columbia  burfh 
into  tears — (he  faw  the  fall  of  her  hero,  and  her  country's  liberties 
cruihed  forever.  Dry  thine  eyes,  bleft  faint,  thy  Wafhington  is 
not  fallen  yet — the  thick  bofies  of  Jehovah's  buckler  are  before  the 
chief,  arid  the  fhafts  of  his  enemies  fhall  yet  fall  to  the  earth,  accurft. 
For,  fcarce  has  Andre  paffed  the  young  militia-men,  before  one  of 
them  tells  his  comrades,  that  "  be  does  not  like  bis  look"  and  in- 
fifts  that  he  fhall  be  called  back  and  queftioned  again.  His  anfwers 
prove  him  a  fpy.  He  would  have  fled,  but  they  level  their  mufquets. 
.  Trembling  and  pale,  he  offers  them  an  elegant  gold- watch  to  let  him 
go ;  no  \  he  preffes  on  them  a  purfe  bloated  with  guineas  ;  no  1  he 


(          23          ) 

promifes  each  of  them  a  handfome  penfion  for  life — but  all  In  vain. 
The  power  that  guarded  Walhington  was  wroth  with  Andre.  On 
fearchinghim  they  find  in  his  boot,  and  in  Arnold's  own  band  wri- 
ting, a  plan  of  the  whole  confpiracy  ! !  Sons  of  the  generous  foul, 
why  fliould  I  tell  how  major  Andre  died?  The  place  where  his 
gallows  flood  is  overgrown  with  weeds — but  fmiling  angels  often 
vilit  the  fpot,  for  it  was  bathed  with  the  tears  of  bis  foes. 

His  candour,  on  his  examination,  in  fome  fort  expiated  his 
crime,  it  melted  the  angel  foul  of  Wafhington,  and  the  tears  of  the 
hero  were  mingled  with  the  ink  that  fignedthe  death-warrant  of  the 
haplefs  youth.  The  wretched  Arnold  fled.  Britifh  hiflorians  have 
wondered  that  he  left  his  wife  in  the  dangerous  power  of  Wafhing- 
ton.  But  Arnold  knew  in  whom  he  trufted ;  and  the  god-like  man 
behaved  exactly  as  Arnold  had  forefeen ;  for  he  immediately  fent 
him  his  clothes  and  baggage,  and  wrote  a  polite  letter  of  condolance 
to  his  lady,  offering  her  a  conveyance  to  her  hufband,  or  to  her 
friends  in  Pennfylyania. 

Wafhington  now  waged  the  war  with  various  fuccefs.  On  the 
one  hand,  his  hero  of  Saratoga  (Gates)  was  defeated,  with  confi- 
derable  lofs  at  Cambden ;  on  the  other,  the  Britifh  loft,  on  the 
KingVMountain,  the  brave  Col.  Fergufon,  with  all  his  army, 
1,4OO  men.  After  the  defeat  of  Gates,  Wafhington  fent  on  his  fa- 
vourite Greene  to  head  the  fouthern  army  againfl  the  victorious 
Cornwallis  and  Tarleton.  With  Greene  he  joined  the  famous 
Morgan,  whofe  riflemen  had  done  fuch  fignal  fervice  during  the 
war. 

To  draw  Cornwallis's  attention  from  a  blow  meditated  againft  the 
Britifh  poft  at  Ninety-Six,  Greene  detached  Morgan  with  30O  re- 
gulars, 50O  militia,  and  lOOhorfe,  to  Faulet's  river,  near  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Cornwallis  and  Tarleton.  Immediately  the  pride  of 
Tarleton  rofe.  He  begged  of  his  friend,  lord  Rawdon,  to  obtain 
for  him  the  permiflion  of  the  commander  in  chief  to  go  and  attack 
Morgan.  "  By  Heaven,  my  lord"  faid  he,  "  /  would  not  desire  a 
44  finer  feather  in  my  cap  than  Col.  Morgan*  Such  a  prisoner 
*'  would  make  my  fortune"  "  Ah,  Ben"  replied,  Rawdon  very 
coolly,  "  you  bad  better  let  the  old  waggoner  alone"  As  no  refu- 
fal  could  fatisfy,  permiflion  at  length  was  granted  him  ;  and  he  in- 
ftantly  fet  out  with  1OOO  choice  infantry,  300  horfe,  and  two  pieces 
of  cannon.  His  force  was  to  Morgans,  at  leaft  as  5  to  4.  At 
parting,  he  faid  to  lord  Rawdon  with  a  fmile,  "  My  lord,  if  you 
44  will  be  so  obliging  as  to  wait  dinner,  the  day  after  to-morrow,  till 
4'  four  o*  clock,  Col.  Morgan  shall  be  one  of  your  lordship*  s  guests" 
44  Very  well,  Ben,"  faid  the  other  "  we  shall  wait." 

Morgan  bravely  flood  his  ground,  and,  at  a  place  called  the  Cow- 
pens,  drew  up  his  men  with  mofl  admirable  judgment.  He  para- 
ded his  militia  in  a  large  field,  but  near  a  piece  of  thick  woods ; 


this  was  made  to  appear  as  his  whole  force ;  but  clofe  behind  them 
and  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  he  concealed  his  regulars.  Scarce 
was  this  arrangement  made,  before  the  thundering  rattle  of  Tarle- 
ton's  drums  were  heard  :  And  the  enemy,  horfe  and  foot,  poured 
in  on  the  other  iide  of  the  field  in  all  their  glittering  fteel.  The 
militia  fuffered  them  to  advance  within  a  hundred  yards,  and  then 
gave  them  a  well  directed  fire,  and,  according  to  orders,  broke,  to 
gain  the  woods,  and  form  behind  the  regulars.  The  Britiih,  fup- 
pofing  Morgan's  whole  force  now  put  to  the  rout,  advanced  with 
fuch  impetuofity  that  Tarleton's  horfe  had  like  to  have  cut  down 
fome  of  the  fugitives  before  they  reached  the  woods.  Sufpecling  no 
danger  nigh,  and  ruining  on  as  to  certain  victory,  the  enemy  were 
now  within  ten  fleps  of  Morgan's  riflemen,  with  every  man  his  fin- 
ger on  the  fatal  trigger,  and  his  unerring  fight  drawn  upon  his  bro- 
ther's heart.  Sons  of  Columbia !  let  the  curtain  drop  :  For  who, 
without  weeping  eyes,  can  behold  the  horrid  tragedy  that  enfued, 
or  the  pale  cloud  of  flirieking  ghofts  that  fuddenly  afcended  from 
the  bloody  field !  Oh  1  that  they  may  have  wing'd  their  way  to  that 
bleft  world,  where  strife,  and  groans,  and  death  are  unknown  ! — 
The  furvivors,  Tarleton  and  a  few  horfe  excepted,  were  taken. 

Wafhington's  heroes  continued  the  war  againft   the  Britifh  till 
July  '81  ;  when  Cornwallis  refolved  to  pufli  into  Virginia  and  to 
fortify  himfelf  at  York-Town.     But  the  eye  of  Walhmgton  was 
upon  him,  and  with  an  addrefs  hardly  ever  equalled,  concerted  a 
plan  that  ended  in  his  total  deftruc~lion.     He  artfully  wrote  letters 
to  Greene,  informing,  that  u  in  order  to  relieve  Virginia,  be  was 
<c  determined  immediately  to  attack  New-Tork"    Thefe  letters  were 
fo  difpofed  of  as  to  fall  into  the  right  hands.     Clinton  took  the 
alarm.     But  while  Clinton  was  in  daily  expectation  of  a  vifit  from 
him,  Wamington  and  his  army,  now  acrofs  the  Delaware,  were 
in  full  ftretch  to  the  fouth,  darkening  the  day  with  their  clouds  of 
rolling  duft.     Cornwallis  faw  now  that  the  day  of  his  fall  was  at 
hand.     He  had  done  all  that  man  could  do,  but  all  in  vain.     On  the 
laft  of  September,  Wa'fhington  fat  down  before  Ybrk  with  about 
100  pieces    of   heavy  artillery.      On  the   7th  of   October,  this 
dreaful  train  began  to  thunder;  and  the  Britifh  works  funk  be- 
fore them.       Lord  Cornwallis,   unwilling    to   expofe  his  gallant 
army  to  the  deftruction  of  a  general  aflault,  agreed  on  the  17th, 
to  furrender.      This  was  juftly  confidered  as  the  clofe  of  war ; 
which  having  been  begun  with  supplication,  Walhington  pioufly 
ordered  to  be  finifhed  with  thanksgiving.     In  the  fiege  of  Corn- 
wallis,  the  behaviour  of  the  Americans*  was,  as  ufual,  generous 

*  The  amiable  colonel  Sea-ram  el.  adjutant-general  of  the  American  army,  and  un- 
commonly beloved  by  them,  was  badly  wounded,  and  taken  prifoncr  by  fome  Britiil* 
dragoons,  who  trotted  him  on,  before  them  three  miles,  into  town,  where  he  prefently 
died ! !  Great  was  the  mourning  for  Scammcl.  In  a  few  nights,  \Vafliington  gave 


C        25        ) 

and  noble.     The  conduct  of  the  French  alfo,  was  fuch  as  to 
tie  them  to  equal  immortality. 

For,  when  the  Britifh  marched  out  to  lay  down  their  arms,  thd 
French  troops  were  feen  to  Ihed  tears — they  condoled  with  the 
Britifh,  and  tendered  them  their  purfes  ! — Glorious  proof,  that 
God  never  intended  men  to  be,  as  tome  wickedly  term  it,  natural 
enemies. 

At  the  conclufion  of  the  war  this  truly  illuftrious  man,  with  a 
foul  far  fuperior  to  the  low  ambition  of  governing,  furrendered  up 
to  Congrefs  all  the  authority  with  which  he  had  been  inverted. — 
Never  was  there  a  more  glorious  difplay  of  the  power  which  vir- 
tue poflefles  over  the  human  heart,  than  on  that  memorable  occa- 
fion.  Congrefs  was  then  fitting  at  Annapolis.  Waihington  had 
informed  them  of  his  intention  to  refign  on  the  following  day.  The 
houfe  was  crouded  with  the  moft  refpe&able  characters  in  the  uni- 
verfe.  Wafhington  arofe,  and  with  a  dignified  modefty,  prefent- 
cd  into  the  hands  of  the  Prefident  of  Congrefs,  the  commiffion 
which  he  had  received  from  them  feven  years  before.  They  now 
faw  the  man  whom  they  had  long  confidered  as  fent  of  God  to  fave 
them  and  their  children  from  flavery — the  man  who,  for  this  great- 
eft  of  all  purpofes  had  cheerfully  relinquiflred  every  pleafure  of 
life,  and  bravely  expofed  himfelf  to  all  its  evils — the  man  who,  for 
feven  long  years  of  difficulty  and  danger,  had  manifefted  the  moft 
unflinching  zeal  for  his  country,  and  had  been  made  the  honored 
inftruttient  of  fecuring  to  them  liberty,  property,  and  every  thing 
moft  dear  and  valuable — the  man  who,  in  confequence  of  all  this, 
poflefled  fo  entirely  the  hearts  of  his  army,  and  of  the  nation,  that 
he  could  eafily  have  made  himfelf  their  mafter — They  now  faw 
this  man  fcorning  to  abufe  his  power  to  the  difhonor  of  his  mo- 
ther country  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  treating  her  with  the  moft  pro- 
found refpecl — dutifully  bowing  before  her  delegated  presence,  the 
Congrefs — returning  the  commifiion  (he  had  entrufted  him  with— 
pioufly  laying  down  his  unbounded  power  at  her  feet— and  cheer- 
fully falling  back  into  the  humble  condition  of  the  reft  of  her  chil- 
dren. The  fight  of  this  great  man,  a<5ling  in  fo  generous,  fo  god- 
like a  manner,  produced  an  effe6l  beyond  the  power  of  words  to 
exprefs.  Virtue  appeared  to  ftand  before  them  arrayed  in  more 
than  mortal  charms.  Their  feelings  of  admiration  and  delight 
were  too  delicious— too  big  for  utterance.  A  flood  of  tears  gufti- 
ed  from  every  eye,  which,  though  a  silent,  was  perhaps  the  rich- 
eft  offering  of  veneration  and  efteem  ever  paid  to  a  human  being. 

On  the  4th  of  February,  1789,  when  the  federal  conftitution 

•rders  to  ftorm  one  of  the  enemy's  redoubts,  which  was  carried  almoft  in  an  inftant- 
The  Bririfli  ca'ied  for  quarters  :  A  voice  of  death  was  heard,  "  Remember  poor  Scammel." 
c*  S.em:tnbirt  genilemen,  you  are  Americans"  was  rejoined  by  the  comraander,  an 
she  points  of  the  American  bayonets  were  thrown  up  towards  ketvcn. 

1 


was  adopted,  he  was,  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  his  country,  deck- 
ed Prefident  of  the  United  States,  and  before  the  expiration  of 
4  years,  for  which  he  had  received  his  appointment,  he  was,  with 
equal  unanimity,  re-elected  to  the  fame  honorable  ftation.  Dur- 
ing the  firfl  part  of  his  adminiftration  he  gave  the  moft  entire  fa- 
tisfactiori ;  but  afterwards  when  Mr.  Pitt  was  pleafed  to  turn  loofe 
his  cruifers  upon  our  defencelefs  commerce,  and  when  the  French 
Directory  and  their  agents,  abufing  the  friendly  fentiments  which 
we  entertained  towards  them  on  account  of  their  former  fervices, 
endeavoured  to  draw  us  into  the  war — when  our  citizens,  impiouf- 
ly  forgetting  their  own  country,  were  divided  and  diftracted  by  fo- 
reign politics,  then  it  was  that  Waihington  failed  to  pleafe  fome. 
Bat  indeed  it  was  not  for  an  angel  of  God  to  pleafe  fuch  oppofite 
parties,  one  of  whom  was  furiouily  clamorous  for  a  war  with  Bri- 
tain, the  other  as  keen  fet  on  a  game  of  logger-heads  with  France. 
In  the  midft  of  thefe  violent  commotions,  Wafhington  turned  not 
to  the  right  hand  nor  to  the  left  to  humour  any  party.  Placed  by 
his  country  at  the  facred  helm  of  her  government,  with  no  pole- 
itar  but  her  good,  no  compafs  but  duty,  like  a  brave  and  heaven- 
aiiifted  pilot,  he  fteered  our  great  national  bark  fafely  through  the 
Scyllaand  Charybdis,  the  dangerous  rocks  and  whirlpools  of  French 
and  Englilh  politics. 

Little  minds  are  dazzled  with  pornp  and  {how,  to  fuch  Wailiiijg- 
tcn  muft  have  appeared  little  lefs  than  a  God,  when  at  York,  amidft 
the  thunder  and  lightning  of  the  war,  the  Britifh  lion  crouched  be- 
fore him,  and  Cornwallis  and  Tarleton,  with  feven  thoufand  vete- 
ran troops,  grounded  their  arms  and  acknowledged  his  fuperiority. 
But,  however  great,  however  glorious,  he  might  have  appeared  as 
a  triumphant  conqueror,  he  muft  appear  far  greater,  far  more  glo- 
rious as  the  noifelefs  fiatefman,  whofe  wifdom  and  firmnefs  pre- 
ferved  his  country  from  the  ruin  and  horrors  of  war,  and  fecured 
to  it  all  the  bleffings  of  peace  and  flourilhing  commerce.  And 
however  this  wife,  this  beneficent  conduct  of  his  may  have  been 
reprobated  by  fome,  yet  the  clay  is  at  hand,  when  he,  whom  no  cla- 
mours could  perfuade  to  let  flip  the  hell-hounds  of  war  to  feaft  on 
the  cries  and  blood  of  mankind,  will  be  revered  and  beloved  as 
one  of  the  guardian  angels  of  the  human  race :  Yes,  when  thofe 
unfeeling  rulers,  who,  to  monopolize  the  fale  of  fugars  and  of  fpi- 
ces,  could,  without  remorfe,  deluge  the  earth  and  dye  the  ocean 
with  human  gore,  (hall  be  remembered  only  to  be.  accurfed,  then 
ihall  the  name  of  Waihington  found  in  the  delighted  ears  of  pofte- 
rity  as  the  name  of  fome  gentle  angel  of  God,  fent  on  errands  of 
love  to  his  country:  When  bloody  kings  and  conquerors,  with  all 
their  eclat,  (hall  have  palled  away  like  the  black  ftorms  of  night 
which  defolated  nations  in  their  courfe,  then  fiiall  our  Wafhington, 
like  the  fun,  blefl  inftrument  of  light  and  joy  to  our  world,  roll  OR 


In  his  eternal  rate,  gilding  diftant  lands  and  ages  yet  unborn,  with 
the  fweet  beams  of  his  beneficent  life. 

When  our  children,  and  our  children's  children,  hearing  the 
great  name  of  Wafhington  re-echoed  from  every  lip,  fliali  afk  their 
fathers, u  what  was  it  that  raifed  Washington  to  this  god-like  height 
44  of  glory .?"  let  them  be  told,  that  "  it  was  bis  great  virtues,  thofe 
u  precious  plants  of  life,  the  native  fhoots  of  a  foul,  like  his,  early 
*'  watered  with  the  dews  of  heaven-born  religion."  Yes,  let  them 
be  told,  andO!  may  they  never  forget !  that  the  fame  of  Wafhing- 
ton,  which  hath  gone  forth  throughout  the  earth,  and  afcended  the 
higheil  heavens,  arofe  from  his  early  fenfe  of  religion,  th?.t  only 
fource  of  human  virtue  and  of  human  greatnefs.  For  how  fhall 
frail  man,  prone  to  inglorious  eafe  and  pleafure,  ever  afcend  the 
arduous  fteeps  of  virtue  and  of  glory,  unlefs  animated  by  the 
mighty  hopes  of  religion  ?  Or  what  (hall  arreft  him  in  his  fwift  de- 
fcent  to  infamy  and  vice  if  unawed  by  that  dread  power  which  pro- 
claims to  the  guilty  that  their  fecret  crimes  are  feen  and  fiiall  not 
go  unpunifhed  I  Hence  the  wife,  in  all  ages,  have  pronounced, 
that  there  never  was  a  truly  great  man  without  religion.  There 
have  indeed  been  great  generals,  great  flatefmen,  &c.  without  re- 
ligion ;  but  let  it  be  remembered  that  mere  courage  or  cunning, 
however  paramount,  never  yet  made  a  great  man. 

"  Admit  that  this  can  conquer,  that  can  cheat, 

"  'Tis  phrafe  abfurd  to  call  a  villain  great : 

u  Who  wickedly  is  wife,  or  madly  brave, 

"  Is  but  the  more  a  fool,  the  more  a  knave." 
Were  it  not  fo,  the  prince  of  devils  would  out-top  the  topmofi 
hero  of  them  all,  for  he  had  wit  to  out-wit  Solomon,  and  courage 
enough  to  throw  down  his  black  gauntlet  to  the  Aimjghty.  No, 
no,  to  be  truly  great,  a  man  muft  have  not  only  great  talents  but 
great  virtues,  and  thefe  mutt  have  nerves  of  fteel  too,  to  bear  him 
ftrongly  up  till  death,  for  if  he  mould  ever  turn  afide  to  vice,  fare- 
well forever  his  reputation  as  a  hero.  Hence,  when  Epaminondas 
was  afked  which  was  the  greateft  man,  himfelf,  or  Pelopidas  (ano- 
ther illuftrious  character  of  the  times)  he  replied,  "  wait  till  we 
u  are  dead,"  thus  implying,  that  the  all  of  heroifm  depends  on  a 
perieverance,  till  death,  in  virtue  and  in  great  actions.  But  what 
motive  on  earth  can  give  fuch  perfeverance  to  our  virtue,  as  true  re- 
ligion? For  want  of  this  moft  animating,  this  only  tone-giving 
principle,  how  many,  who  once  dazzled  the  world  with  the  gUre 
of  their  abilities,  are  now  eclipfed  and  fet,  to  rife  no  more  ?  There 
was  Arnold,  who,  in  courage  and  military  talents,  glittered  in  the 
fame  firmament  with  Wafhington,  and,  for  a  while,  his  face  fhcne 
like  the  fb.r  of  the  morning,  but,  alas  1  for  lack  of  Washington's 
religious  principles,  he  foon  fell,  like  Lucifer,  from  a  heaven  of 
glory  into  anabyfs  of  never-ending  infamy.  But  why  fliould  I  fum* 


i 


) 


moh  the  Arnolds,  the  Cromwells,  the  Bacons,  the  Caefars  and  A- 
lexanders  of  the  earth,  to  give  fad  evidence  that  no  valour,  no  ge- 
nius alone  can  make  men  great?  Do  we  not  daily  meet  with  me- 
lancholy inilances  of  youth,  lovely  as  innocence,  fparkling  as  wit, 
and  promifing  to  the  full  of  their  fond  parents'  wiihes,  who,  yet, 
merely  for  lack  of  religion,  foon  make  fhipwreck  of  all  this  preci- 
ous cargo  ;  facrificing  their  gold  to  gamblers,  their  health  to  har- 
lots, and  their  glory  to  grog  ;  making  confcience  their  curfe,  this 
life  a  purgatory,  and  the  next  a  hell ! !  In  fa&,  a  man,  though  of 
the  greatefl  talents,  without  religion,  is  but  like  a  gorgeous  Ihip 
without  ballad — highly  painted,  and  with  flowing  canvas  fhe  launch- 
es out  upon  the  deep,  and  during  a  fmooth  fea  and  gentle  breezes, 
{he  moves  along  {lately  as  the  pride  of  ocean ;  but,  foon  as  the 
itormy  winds  defcend,  and  the  black'ning  billows  begin  to  roll,  fud- 
denly  fhe  is  overfet  and  difappears  forever.  But  who  is  this  com- 
ing thus  glorioufly  along,  with  mafts  towering  to  heaven,  and  his 
fails  white  looming  like  the  mountain  of  fnows,  the  flrength  of  o- 
cean  roars  beneath  his  prow,  while  his  courfe  through  the  waves  is 
as  the  courfe  of  the  mighty  Leviathan  ?  Who  is  it  but  the  fervant 
of  God,  the  friend  of  man,  and  guardian  angel  of  his  country ! 
Who  is  it  but  the  pride  of  Columbia,  Wafhington  the  great  and 
good,  whole  talents  like  the  fails  of  a  mighty  fhip,  fpread  far  and 
wide  catching  the  gales  of  heaven,  while  his  capacious  foul,  flored 
with  the  rich  ballaft  of  religion,  remains  firm  and  unfhaken  as  the 
ponderous  rock  ?  The  warm  zephyrs  of  profperity  breathe  melt- 
ingly  upon  him,  the  chill  ftorms  of  adverfity  defcend  in  all  their 
fury  ;  the  big  billows  of  afHi&ion  dafh  violently  againft  him,  but 
nothing  can  move  him  ;  his  eye  is  fixed  on  God,  his  thoughts  on 
the  fame  that  remaineth  after  death — the  prefentjoys  of  an  approv- 
ing confcience,  and  the  glory  that  fadeth  not  away,  thefe  comfort 
and  fupport  him. 

Never,  perhaps,  had  human  being  a  more  vivid  fenfe  than  Wafh- 
Sngton,  of  that  great  truth  which  lies  at  the  bottom  of  all  our  reli- 
gion and  of  all  our  joys;  I  mean,  the  belief  of  a  particular  Provi- 
dence. His  ftrong,  vigorous  mind  clearly  difcerned  that  mighty- 
God,  whom  nature  through  all  her  wond'rous  works  proclaims  a- 
loud :  that  mighty  God  who  fills  the  heaven  of  heavens  with  his 
gloiy,  yet  every  where  prefent  with  his  works,  paints  the  humble 
lilly  of  the  vale,  and  feeds  with  parent  care  the  crying  tenants  of  the 
fparrow'ii  neft ;  that  Almighty  God  who  is  thus  regardful  of  his 
sneanest  creatures,  muft,  furely,  be  more  regardful  of  man  than  of 
jnillions  of  fparrows.  This  through  life,  was  Wamington's  firm 
belief*  Ahd  this  through  life  animated  his  hopes,  fweetened  his 
fefigHSition,  taught  him  humility,  and  inflamed  his  gratitude.  To 
••ver-prefent  parent  and  preferver  of  men,  Wafhington  afcribed 
all  thofe  rich  mercies  which  crowned  his  life— -his  favored  birth  at 


C      *»      ) 

fo  fmgularly  important  a  time  and  place — his  extraordinary  rife 
from  obfcurity  to  a  throne  !  a  throne  in  the  hearts  of  five  millions 
of  freemen — his  miraculous  efcape  from  the  deadly  rifle's  aim,  and 
from  all  the  cafualties  of  war — his  prefervation  from  the  dark  de- 
figns  of  Arnold  and  of  Andre — his  capture  of  veteran  armies,  and 
defeat  of  a  mighty  nation — his  fubverfton,  in  part,  of  a  great  mo- 
narchy, and  eftahlifhment  of  a  pure  and  happy  republic — Thefe 
wonderful  events  for  which  admiring  millions  extolled  him,  his 
enlightened  mind  deemed  it  equal  iufanity  and  facrilege  to  take  te 
himfelf.  u  Not  unto  me,  not  unto  me,  but  unto  thyfelf  O  God  be 
"  all  the  glory,"  was  the  flyle  of  WASHINGTON.  When  called  by 
his  country  is  1775,  to  lead  her  freedom-loving  fons  againft  the 
arms  of  Britain,  what  charming  modefty,  what  noble  felf-diftruft, 
what  pious  confidence  in  heaven,  appeared  in  all  his  anfwers ! 
How  widely  different  from  the  behaviour  of  Suwarrow  on  a  fimilar 
occafion  I  When  that  butcher  of  the  Poles  was  appointed  by  the 
Emperor  of  Rruffia,  to  command  his  forces  againft  the  French,  he 
replied,  "  I  thank  your  Highnefs,  and  will  beat  tbe  French  !  .'** 
Vain  mortal !  Shall  the  Father  of  mercies  defert  the  fouls  that  he 
has  created,  let  drop  his  everlafting  reins  of  government,  and  fuf- 
fer  a  Dsemon  to  break  the  nations  before  him  like  a  potter's  veflel ! 
No  !  WASHINGTON  thought  not  fo.  Firmly  perfuaded  that  he 
who  formed  "  this  univerfal  frame  thus  wonderous  fair,"  formed 
it  on  fome  great  plan  worthy  of  infinite  wifdom  and  goodnefs,  he 
wifely  concluded,  that  God  would  never  give  to  another  his  glory, 
the  glory  of  governing  it :  nor  allow  to  angels,  men,  or  devils,  to 
a6l  but  in  fublerviency  to  his  adorable  defign.  Filled  with  this  fub- 
limely  delightful  idea,  WASHINGTON  found  no  place  for  pride — 
faw  himfelf  but  as  a  mortal  man  whofe  breath  is  in  his  noftrils — * 
whofe  place  is  but  a  point — his  time  a  moment — and  himfelf  an 
atom  in  the  hand  of  God  to  accomplifh  his  mighty  will.  Hence 
when  called  to  the  chief  command,  by  his  countrymen  who  ex- 
pected every  thing  from  his  great  abilities,  how  utterly  did  he  re- 
nounce all  felf-fufliciency  ?  how  earneftly  did  he  conjure  his  coun- 
trymen "  to  ceafe  from  man,  nor  truft  in  the  arm  of  flefh,  but  in 
the  living  God,  whofe  alone  the  victory  is,  with  whom  it  is  all  one 
to  fave  by  many  or  by  few." — Whor  in  the  flame  of  battle,  can 
flrike  a  fudden  panic  through  the  hearts  of  the  brave,  or  give  the 
lion's  courage  to  the  timed,  as  may  bed  ferve  his  all  wife  purpofes. 
And  when  after,  having  conducted  his  countrymen  through  the 
great  revolutionary  war  with  fuch  fmgular  fuccefs,  he  again  re- 
ceived an  unanimous  call  to  the  PRESIDENT'S  CHAIR,  accompanied 
with  the  heartiefl  thanks  of  the  Union  for  his  great  fervices  paft, 
and  an  aflured  anticipation  of  equally  great  to  come,  read  his  an- 
fwers. "  When  I  contemplate  tbe  interposition  of  Providence,  as 
it  was  visibly  manifested  in  guiding  us  through  the  revolution,  in 


preparing  us  for  the  reception  of  a  general  government,  and  in  con- 
ciliating the  good  will  of  the  people  of  America  towards  one  another 
after  its  adoption  ;  I  feel  myself  oppressed  and  almost^bverwhelmed, 
with  a  sense  of  the  divine  munificence.  I  feel  that  nothing  is  due 
to  my  personal  agency  in  all  those  complicated  and  wonderful  events, 
except,  what,  can  simply  be  attributed  to  the  exertions  of  an  honest 
zeal  for  the  good  of  my  country" 

And  when  he  prefented  himfelf,  for  the  nrfl  time,  before  that 
augiiil  body,  the  Congrefs  of  the  United  States,  April  30,  1739 — 
when  he  fiiw  before  him  in  full  conclave  the  pride  of  Columbia  in 
herchofen  fons,  her  Adamfes,  her  Jefferfons,  her  Jays,  her  Frank- 
lins, her  Lees,  &c.  &c. — Immortal  heroes  !  whofe  wifdom  and  va- 
lor had  flood  around  her  a  wall  of  fire,  during  her  long  and  ardu- 
ous druggie  for  liberty  and  independence—when  he  faw  thofe  illuf- 
trious  faces,  which  the  knowledge  of  their  GREAT  VIRTUES  ren- 
dered 1U11  more  illuilrious  ;  and  whofe  eager  eyes  all  fixed  and 
{hining  on  HIM,  darted  the  fweeteft  beams  of  admiration  and  of 
filial  affecTion,  then  it  was,  that  our  WASHINGTON  felt  sensations 
unutterable  /  sensations  that  were  left  to  more  expressive  silence — 
that  facred  paufe  of  exquifite  blifs  which  belongs  alone  to  virtue  to 
impart  !  and  one  moment  of  which  far  outweighs  a  whole  eterni- 
ty of  profperous  vice.  And  his  addrefs  to  Congrefs  on  that  im- 
portant occafion  infinitely  deferved  the  folemn  filence  with  which 
it  was  heard  ;  infinitely  defer-ves  to  be  remembered  by  every  council, 
parliament,  or  congrefs,  that  may  be  held  to  the  end  of  the  world! 

The  delegated  Fathers  of  his  country  were  before  him  to  con- 
fult  on  measures,  of  all  others,  the  neareft  to  his  heart,  on  mea- 
fures  the  belt  calculated  to  flrengthen  the  chain  of  love  between 
the  States — to  prcferve  friendfhip  and  harmony  with  foreign  pow- 
ers— to  fecure  the  bleilings  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  of  peace 
and  profnerity  to  the  union,  and  to  build  up  our  young  republic,  a 
great  and  happy  people,  among  the  nations  of  the  earth.  Never 
patriot  entered  on  fuch  important  bufmefs  with  fairer  hopes,  whe- 
ther we  con'ider  the  unanimity  and  confidence  of  the  citizens,  or 
his  own  sad  the  abilities  and  virtues  of  his  fellow-counfellors  ;  but 
all  this  vfo'jld  not  do,  nothing,  Ihort  of  the  divine  friendfhip,  could 
fifisfv  WASHINGTON.  Feeling  the  magnitude,  difficulty,  ancy 
daniy^r  o~  managing  fuch  an  sfiemblage  of  communities  and  inter- 
efts^  d:*e  -  IK\^  the  machinations  of  bad  men,  and  well  knowing 
tVie  iafuiH  'lenr.y  of  all  fecond  caufes,  even  the  best  ,<•  he  piouily  re- 
minds Co^gr^fs  of  the  wifdom  of  imploring  the  benediction  of  the 
<rrent  firsf  cavse,  without  which  he  knew  that  his  beloved  country 
could  never  r.rofper. 

"  It  *»ouldtx$S  he,  be  peculiarly' improper,  to  omit,  in  t&sfrst  of- 
ficial •-'iSt,  my  fervent  supplications  to  that  almighty  being  who  ru't't 
ever  tbe  universe,  who  presides  in  the  councils  of  nations,  and  whose 
providential  aids  can  supply  every  human  deject,  that  his  benedic- 


tlon  may  consecrate  to  tbe  liberties  and  happiness  of  tbe  people  oftbt 
United  States,  a  government  instituted  by  themselves  for  these  essential 
purposes,  and  may  enable  every  instrument  employed  in  its  admini- 
stration, to  execute  with  success,  the  functions  allotted  to  his  charge. 
In  tendering  this  homage  to  the  great  author  of  every  public  and 
private  good,  I  assure  myself  that  it  expresses  your  sentiments  not  less 
than  my  own  ;  nor  those  of  my  fellow-citizens  at  large,  less  than  either* 
No  people  can  be  bound  to  acknowledge  and  adore  the  inyifible  hand 
which  conduces  the  ajfairs  of  men,  more  than  tbe  people  of  tbe  Uni- 
ted States.  Every  step,  by  which  they  have  advanced  to  tbe  character 
of  an  independent  nation,  seems  to  have  been  distinguished  by  some 
token  of  providential  agency. — These  reflections  arising  out  of  tbe 
present  crisis,  have  forced  themselves  too  strongly  on  my  mind  to  be 
suppressed.  Tou  will  join  with  me,  I  trust,  in  thinking,  that  there 
are  'none  under  the  influence  of  which  tbe  proceedings  of  a  new  and 
free  government  can  more  auspiciously  commence" 

And  after  having  come  near  the  clofe  of  this  the  mod  fenfible  and 
virtuous  fpeech  ever  made  to  a  fenfible  and  virtuous  representation 
of  a  free  people,  he  adds——"  I  mail  take  my  prefent  leave  ;  but, 
"  not,  without  reforting  once  more  to  the  benign  parent  of  the  hu- 
"  man  race,  in  humble  fupplication,  that,  fmce  he  has  been  pleafed 
"  to  favour  the  American  people  with  opportunities  for  delibera- 
"  ting  with  perfect  tranquillity  ;  and  difpofitions  for  deciding  with 
"  unparalleled  unanimity,  on  a  form  of  government  for  the  fecu- 
"  rity  of  their  union,  and  the  advancement  of  their  happinefs  ;  ibhis 
*'  divine  bleflings  may  be  equally  confpicuous  in  the  enlarged  views, 
"  the  temperate  confultations,  and  the  wife  meafures,  on  which  the 
41  fuccefs  of  this  government  muft  depend." 

But  if  the  conduct  of  our  WASHINGTON  was  fo  lovely  in  the 
eyes  of  angels  and  good  men,  becaufe  fo  refpeclful  to  the  great  pa- 
ret,  in  public,  it  was  not  lefs  fo  in  private  life.  The  learned  and 
facetious  Mr.  LEE  MASSEY,  long  rector  of  the  pariih  in  which 
WASHINGTON  lived,  has  often  told  me,  that  he  never  knew  fo  con- 
ftant  a  churchman  as  WASHINGTON.  u  And  his  behaviour  in  the 
houfe  of  his  God  was  fo  exceedingly  decent,  added  the  fame  Rev. 
gentleman,  that  it  produced  the  happieft  effect  on  my  whole  congre- 
gation, and  greatly  aflifted  and  comforted  me  in  my  moralizing  la- 
bours ;  and  he  always  made  it  a  point,  to  bring  with  him  to  church 
whatever  friends  happened  to  be  at  his  houfe.  The  amiable  Judge 
Harrifon,  fecretary  to  Wafhington,  ufed  often  to  fay,  that  whenever 
the  General  could  be  spared  from  camp,  on  tbe  Sabbath,  be  never 
failed  riding  out  to  some  neighbouring  church,  to  make  one  of  those^ 
who  were  publicly  worshiping  the  great  Creator. 

And  while  he  refided  at  Philadelphia,  as  Prefident  of  the  United 
States,  his  cheerful  and  conftant  attendance  on  divine  fervice,  was 
iUch  ag  to  convince  all  who  were  deftitute  of  religion  and  true  tafte, 


(        32        ) 

that  he  deemed  no  pleafures  equal  to  thofe  of  devotion,  and  no  bu- 
fmefs  a  funicient  escufe  for  neglecling  his  fupreme  benefactor. — 
Created  of  fentimentalifts  I  Patron  ot  propriety  1  Noble  devotee 
ef  duty  I  No  wonder  th:it  he,  whom  thou  fo  fignally  honoredll 
through  life,  ihould  through  life,  fo  fignally  have  honored  thee ! 

The  pillars  of  heaven  are  not  more  immoveable  than  is  this  great 
truth  ;  which  in  WASHINGTON'S  own  language  runs  beautifully 
thus — "  there  exifts  in  the  (economy  and  courle  of  nature  an  in- 
"  diffoluble  union  between  virtue  and  happinefs  ;  between  duty 
"  and  advantage"— between  religion  and  glory.  For  what  is  reli- 
gion but  a  firm  belief  of  the  great  things  of  eternity,  and  a  reveren- 
tial, affectionate  intercourfe  between  the  foul  and  its  almighty  crea- 
tor ?  Now  what  motives  could  human  wit  devife,  comparable  with 
thefe  of  religion,  to  kindle  our  love,  to  enrapture  our  hopes,  to 
alarm  our  fears,  to  inflame  our  ambition,  and,  in  fhort,  to  touch 
every  fpring  andpaifion  of  our  fouls,  in  favour  of  virtue  and  happi- 
nefs ? 

Did  the  fenfe  of  fhame,  reflrain  Alcibiades  from  bafe  actions  ha 
the  prefence  of  Socrates  ?  Behold,  fays  religion,  a  greater  than  So- 
crates is  here.  Does  the  love  of  created  beauty  and  worth,  refine 
and  improve  the  foul  ?  Religion  leads  to  the  eternal  beauty  !  the 
love  of  whom  exalts  human  nature  to  divine. 

Did  the  ambition  of  a  civic  crown  animate  Scipio  to  heroic 
deeds  ?  Religion  holds  up  a  crown,  at  light  of  which  the  laurels  of 
a  Caefar  fade  to  weeds.  Does  the  hope  of  gain  call  forth  nobleft 
induftry  and  worth  ?  Religion  points  to  treaiures  in  heaven,  com- 
pared with  which,  whole  beds  of  diamonds  and  rocks  of  mafly 
gold  are  tram.  Did  Titus  and  Aurelius  ftudy  the  happinefs  of 
their  fubjec~ls,  for  the  fake  of  this  world's  fame  ?  Religion  difplays 
that  world  of  glory,  where  good  kings,  who  have  made  their  iub- 
jects  happy,  (hall  (nine  like  the  ftars  for  ever  and  ever. 

Are  fubjec~ls  withheld  from  crimes  ruinous  to  fociety,  through 
fear  of  death  ?  Religion  adds  infinite  horrors  to  that  dread,  it 
warns  them  of  a  death  both  of  foul  and  body,  in  hell,  in  torments 
exquifue  and  eternal. 

In  inert,  what  motives  under  heaven  can  reflrain  men  from  vice 
and  mifery,  or  urge  them  on  in  full  ftretch  after  individual  and  na- 
tional happinefs,  comparable  with  thofe  of  Religion  ?  Hence  thofe 
great  Legislators  of  nations,  Mofes,  Lycurgus,  and  Numa,  de- 
Sred  nothing  for  their  dear  countrymen,  in  comparifon  of  Reli- 
gious principles.  "  /  ask  not  gold  for  the  Spartans,  faid  Lycurgus, 
virtue  is  better  than  gold"  the  event  {hewed  his  wifdom.  The 
Spartans  Were  invincible  all  the  days  of  their  virtue  even  50O 
years  I  "  I  ask  not  wealth  for  Israel,  cried  Moses,  but  01  that  they 
were  w//f,  that  tbsj  did  but  fear  God  and  keep  bis  command- 


(          33          ) 

ments !  The  Lord  himself  sk all  be  tbeir  sun. end  shield"  The 
event  proved  Moles  a  true  prophet.  For  while  they  were  virtu- 
ous they  were  independent  and  happy.  In  fhort,  look  throughout 
the  world,  and  you  will  fee  this  eternal  truth  written  on  the  fates 
and  fortunes  of  all  nations,  that  according  as  they  were  virtu- 
ous or  vicious,  they  were  ftrong  or  weak,  united  or  divided,  prof- 
perous  or  unfortunate. 

Hence,  WASHINGTON,  in  his  confultations  for  our  good,  laid 
more  flrefs  on  religious  principles,  than  on  all  other  means  what- 
ever. "  Of  all  the  difpoiitions  and  habits  which  lead  to  the  prof- 
"  perity  of  a  nation,  religion,  fays  he,  is  the  indifpenfable  fupport. 
"  Volumes  could  not  trace  all  its  connections  with  private  and  pub- 
"  lie  happinefs."  That  is,  to  lay  nothing  of  all  thoie  duties,  ge- 
nerally called  duties  of  imperfect  obligation,  fuch  as  meeknefs, 
hofpitality,  charity,  &c.  Nor  of  thofe  ten  thoufand  little,  name- 
kfs  tendernefies  and  endearments  of  looks,  fpeech  and  manners, 
which,  like  the  graces  in  a  fine  piece  of  mufic,  make  up  the  fweet- 
eft  harmonies  of  focial  life  ;  but  which  have  no  more  to  do  with 
human  laws,  than  angels  have  with  fetters  and  handcuffs  :  To  pafs 
over  all  thefe  :  "  Let  it  be  fisnply  afked,  continues  WASHINGTON, 
"  where  is  the  fecurity  for  property,  for  reputation,  for  life  itfelf, 
"  if  there  be  no  fenfe  of  God  or  religion  on  the  minds  of  thofc 
"  who  give  their  oaths  in  courts  of  juftice." 

Human  laws  ! — Human  nonfenfe  ! — How  often,  even  where  the 
cries  and  fcreams  of  the  wretched  call  aloud  for  lightning-fpeeded 
vengeance,  have  we  not  feen  the  fword  of  human  law  loiter  in  its 
coward  fcabbard,  afraid  of  angry  royalty  ?  Did  not  that  vile  Queen 
Jezebel,  having  a  mind  to  compliment  her  huiband  with  a  vine- 
yard belonging  to  one  of  her  poor  fubj eels,  fubborn  a  couple  of 
villains  to  take  a  falfe  oath  againft  innocent  Naboth,  and  then  caufe 
him  to  be  dragged  out  with  his  little  motherlefs,  crying  babes,  and 
mofl  barbarouily  ftoned  to  death  ? 

Great  God  !  what  bloody  tragedies  have  been  acted  on  the  poor 
ones  of  the  earth,  by  kings  and  great  men  who  were  above,  the 
laws,  and  had  no  fenfe  of  religion  to  keep  them  in  awe ! — And  if  men 
be  not  above  the  laws,  yet  what  horrid  crimes  !  what  ruinous  robbe- 
ries !  what  wide-wafting  flames  !  what  cruel  murders  may  they  not 
commit  in  secret — if  they  be  not  withheld  by  the  facred  arm  of  re- 
ligion 1  "  In  vain  therefore  fays  WASHINGTON,  would  that  man 
"  claim  the  tribute  of  patriotifm,  who  fnould  do  any  thing  to  dif- 
"  countenance  religion  and  morality,  thofe  great  pillars  of  human 
"  happinefs,  thofe  firmeft  props  of  the  duties  of  men  and  citizens. 

JE 


(         34         ) 

"  The  mere  politician  equally  with  the  pious  man,  ought  to  re- 
fpecl  and  cherifh  them." 

But  fome  have  faid,  and  with  a  ferious  face  too,  that  a  fenfe  of 
honour  is  fufficient  to  preferve  men  from  bafe  actions  !  O  blafphe- 
my  to  fenfe  !  Do  we  not  daily  hear  of  men  of  honour,  by  dice 
and  cards,  draining  their  fellow-citizens  to  the  laft  guinea,  reduce- 
ing  them  to  a  dunghill,  or  driving  them  to  a  piftol  ?  Do  we  not 
daily  hear  of  men  of  honor  corrupting  their  neighbours  wives  and 
daughter,  and  then  murdering  their  hufbands  and  brothers  in 
duels  ?  Bind  fuchxfelfiQi,  fuch  inhuman  beings,  by  a  fenfe  of  ho- 
nour !  !  Why  not  bind  roaring  lions  with  a  cobweb  ?  u  No"  ex- 
claims WASHINGTON,  "  Whatever  a  fenfe  of  honour  may  do  on 
"  men  of  refined  education,  and  on  minds  of  a  peculiar  ftructure, 
u  reafon  and  experience  both  forbid  us  to  expect  that  national  mo- 
44  rality  can  prevail,  inexclufion  of  religious  principles." 

Indeed  he  feems  never  to  have  loft  fight  of  the  importance  of 
religion  to  national  fafety.  When  he  was  told  that  the  Britifli 
troops  at  Lexington,  on  the  ever  memorable  19th  April,  1775,  had 
fired  on  the  Americans  and  killed  feveral  of  them,  he  replied,  "  I 
"  grieve  for  the  death  of  my  countrymen,  but  rejoice  that  the 
Britifh  are  ftill  fo  determined  to  put  God  on  our  fide  :"  alluding  to 
that  noble  fervtiment  which  he  has  fmce  fo  happily  expressed,  viz. 
"  The  fmiles  of  heaven  can  never  be  expected  on  a  nation  that  dif- 
u  regards  the  eternal  rules  of  order  and  right  which  heaven  itfelf 
"  has  ordained."  And  truly  WASHINGTON  had  abundant  reafon 
from  his  own  happy  experience,  to  recommend  religion  fo  heartily 
to  others.  For,  as  religion  never  had  a  more  dutiful  fon  than 
WASHINGTON,  fo  WASHINGTON  never  had  a  more  generous  mo- 
ther than  religion.  Setting;  afide  all  thofe  fecret  comforts  and  joys  with 
which  fhe  refreihed  him  in  his  frequent  vifits  to  the  great  King ;  fet- 
ing afide  all  thofe  incalculable  favours  which  he  received  from  her 
at  the  hands  of  her  celeftial  daughters,  the  virtues — that  fine  health 
which  rosey-cbeetfd  temperance  gave  him — that  clearnefs  of  head 
which  genteel  sobriety  furnifhed  him — that  firm  tone  which  blush- 
ing chastity  difpenfecl  him— that  horn  of  abundance  which  firm- 
nerved  industry  beftowed  on  him — that  tranquillity  which  prudence 
in  business,  preferved  to  him — that  cheerfulnefs  which  smiling  in- 
nocence prefented  to  him — that  bold  undaunted  heart  which  good 
conscience  gave  him — Ifay,fctting  afide  theie,  and  the  tenthoufand 
other  choiceft  prefents  which  religion  fent  him  by  the  hands  of  her 
daughters  the  virtues  ;  Ihc  threw  over  him  her  own  venerable 
mantle,  which,  like  the  Aegis  of  Minerva,  makes  little  men  great 


(         35         ) 

and  great  men  little  lefs  than  gods.  It  was  this  mantle  of  religion 
which  immortalized  our  WASHINGTON.  By  inipiring  every  body 
withfthe  profoundeft  veneration  for  him  as  the  befl  of  men,  it  natural- 
ly fmoothe.d  his  way  to  the  fupreme  command.  For  when  war, 
that  monfter  of  hell,  came  on  roaring  againft  us,  with  all  his  death- 
heads  and  garments  rolled  in  blood,  we  unanimoufly  elected 
WASHINGTON  our  commander  in  chief,  from  a  natural  perfuafion 
that  fo  good  a  man  muft  be  the  peculiar  favourite  of  heaven,  and 
the  fafteft  friend  of  his  country.  How  far  this  precious  in{lin6l  of 
nature  in  favour  of  goodnefs,  was  correct,  or  how  far  WASHING- 
TON'S condudl  was  honourable  to  religion,  and  glorious  to  himfelf 
and  country,  bright  ages  to  come,  and  happy  nations  yet  unborn, 
will,  I  truft,  declare. 

The  life  of  WASHINGTON  adds  one  more  to  the  already  innume- 
rable proofs  of  the  incalculable  importance  of  good  character  to 
all  men,  but  efpecially  to  great  men.  "  Very  gladly,  faid  Georgs 
Villars,  would  I  give  ten  thoufand  pounds  for  a  good  character, 
becauie  I  could  eafily  make  thirty  thoufand  pounds  by  it.  But. 
WASHINGTON'S  good  character  was  worth  to  himfelf  and  to  his 
country,  more  thirty  thoufand  pounds  than  all  the  golden  fands 
of  Gambia,  and  precious  ore  cf  Pototi  could  furnifh  !  It  obtained 
for  him  the  fupreme  command  of  the  American  armies  !  a  com- 
mand which  his  great  abilities  conducted  with  fuch  (kill  and  fuc- 
cefs,  that  he  fully  eftablifhed  the  liberties  of  his  country ;  and  creel- 
ed for  himfelf  a  monument  whofe  bafe  covers  the  United  States 
and  its  fummit  reaches  the  Iky  :  a  monument  that  fhall  fhine  in 
the  Cabinets  of  the  Almighty,  when  the  moon  has  fhrowded  for- 
ever her  filver  face,  and  the  great  fun  himfelf  has  ceafedto  gladden 
the  earth  with  his  golden  beams. 

But  before  I  quit  this  article,  permit  me  to  add  (for  which  I 
hope  his  brethren  in  arms  will  thank  me)  that  Wafhington's  piety 
rendered  him  one  of  the  brighteft  ornaments  of  his  profeffion  as 
a  foldier.  It  infpired  him  with  that  heroic  kind  of  courage,  fo 
honourable  to  reason  and  to  man,  and  fo  necefiary  to  a  general  ; 
that  calm  deliberate  valour,  which,  even  in  the  madden  rage  of 
battle,  enabled  him  to  look  coolly  on,  and  improve  every  advan- 
tage which  the  errors  of  the  enemy  afforded.  Braddock's  bloody 
field  bears  glorious  tefjimony  to  this.  For  there  in  the  midfl  of 
horrors  unparalleled,  while  profane  dram-drinking  veterans  wer* 
flying  in  every  direction,  like  gun-ihot  deer,  this  virtuous  youth, 
unconcerned  as  Mars,  was  riding  along  the  line  of  his  Virginia 
riflemen,  inceffantly  calling  out  "  well  fired,  my  brave  fejlows  t 


(         36         ) 

"  remember  the  fate  of  our  little  army  depends  now  on  your 
"  rifles." 

An  officer  faid  one  day  at  head-quarters,  that  in  his  opinion  a 
field  of  battle  called  for  valour  not  virtue.  "  There  is  no  call,  fir," 
replied  Waihington,  u  prior  to  that  of  virtue,  none  of  comp?*,  ible 
4i  magnitude  and  importance.  By  fitting  we  ferve  our  country  ; 
44  by  virtue  we  ferve  him  who  made  us,  we  ferve  mankind,  wfe 
44  ferve  ourfelves  and  even  we  ferve  our  country  the  better  in  the 
i4  article  of  valour.  For  how  a  man  can  fight  in  a  bad  caufe  and 
44  under  a  guilty  confcicnce,  I  do  not  know.  Under  fuch  circum- 
44  fiances  I  think  I  fhould  be  the  verieft  coward  alive  ;  but  give  me 
44  the  happinefs  to  live  and  to  fight,  fo  as  to  have  God  on  my  fide, 
44  and  I  hope  I  ihall  never  know  fear." 

This  is  near  a-kin  to  a  noble  fentiment  of  a  great  captain  in  for- 
mer ages  u  I  fear  my  God,  O  Abner,  arid  know  no  other  fear." 

The  great  Guflavus  Adolphus  ufed  conftantly  to  fay,  that  u  a 
foldier  always  fights  the  better  for  being  a  good  man."* 

Wafhington  proved  to  a  demonftration  that  virtue  is  the  foul  of 
courage.  No  beau  ever  went  with  more  compofure  to  a  ball  than 
he  did  to  a  battle.  Hannibal-like,  he  was  the  firft  on  the  field,  and 
the  lad  off.  Providence,  in  love  to  America,  made  his  body  bul- 
let-proof, and  his  great  virtues  rendered  his  mind  fearlefs  of  fear. 

His  conduct  in  camp  was  correfpondetit  with  his  principles. — 
He  was  never  abfent  from  public  prayers.  And  as  to  his  private 
devotions,  we  have  every  evidence,  fave  that  of  the  eye,  that  they 
were  duly  difcharged.  He  whofe  feelings  through  life,  were  fo 
exquifitely  alive  to  duty  and  propriety,  that  he  could  not  lie  down 
Utider  the  weight  of  an  hundred  pence  due  to  his  neighbour  ;  furely 
could  never  have  flept  under  the  enormous  burden  of  ten  thousand 
talents  due  to  his  God. 

WASHINGTON'S  PATRIOTISM. 

The  next  duty  to  piety  is  patriotism,  or  the  love  of  our  country. 

In  this  firft  of  all  republican  virtues,  the  whole  life  of  Wafhing- 
ton may  juflly  challenge  a  comparifon  with  that  of  the  greateft  He- 
roes, whether  we  confider  the  majefty  of  its  fiream  or  the  purity 
of  its  fource.  His  was  not  the  patriotifin  of  a  Csefar,  or  an  Alex- 
ander, human  devils  1  who  could  rob  and  murder  millions  of  man- 
kind to  enrich  their  own  flates.  No,  his  was  the  patriotifm  of  an 
enlightened  and  virtuous  mind,  which,  looking  on  the  whole  hu- 

*  On  the  morning  of  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  an  officer  happening  to  fay,  "  I  be- 
**  lievc  we  fhaU  liivea  hut  clav  of  it,"  Washington  replied,  Wetl^tbank  God,  we  have 
"  a  gaod  caujiy  and  i  truli  a  cle.>r  cc'if>:isK-et  what  could  \ve  defire  more  ?" 


(         37         ) 

man  family  as  his  brethren,  felt  for  all,  the  tendernefs  of  a  brother ; 
rendered  unto  all,  the  fame  great  duties  of  humanity  and  juftice. 
Cut  knowing  that  the  proper  fphere  of  activity  to  the  individual 
lay  in  his  own  country,  he  nobly  exerted  on  that  beloved  fpot,  all 
the  influence  of  his  prayers,  his  example,  and  his  advice. 

As  to  his  prayers — "  I  {hell  carry  with  me  to  my  grave,  fays  he, 
"  addreffing  himfelf  to  us,  ty  unceafmg  vows,  that  heaven  may 
"  continue  to  you  the  choiceft  tokens  of  its  beneficence — that 
"  your  union  and  brotherly  affection  may  be  perpetual — that  the 
"  free  conftitution  which  is  the  work  of  your  own  hands,  may  be 
"  facredly  maintained — that  its  adminiftration  in  every  department 
"  may  be  ftamped  with  wifdom  and  virtue — that  in  fliort  the  hap- 
"  pinefs  of  the  people  of  thefe  flates,  under  the  bleiTmgs  of  heaven, 
"  may  be  made  complete,  by  fo  careful  a  prefervation,  and  fo  pru- 
u  dent  an  ufe  of  liberty,  as  will  acquire  to  them  the  glory  of  re- 
"  commending  it  to  the  applaufe,  the  affection  and  adoption  of 
"  every  nation  which  is  ftranger  to  it."  O  divine  prayer  1  would 
to  God  it  could  be  uttered  every  Sabbath,  in  all  places  of  prayer 
throughout  the  Union,  and  with  the  fame  heaveii-aflaulting  fer- 
vour with  which  it  flowed  from  bis  full  foul  !  ! 

As  to  his  advice,  hear  how  earneftly  he  intreats  us — "  to  inv 
a  prove  the  extraordinary  opportunities  of  happincfs  which  heaven 
"  has  put  into  our  hands."  How  particularly  does  he  conjure  us 
"  to  reflect  on  the  infinite  importance  of  national  union  to  our  col- 
"  leclive  and  individual  welfare — to  cherifh  a  cordial  and  imrnove- 
"  able  attachment  to  it — to  accuftom  ourfelves  to  think  and  fpeak 
"  of  it  as  of  the  palladium  of  our  political  fafety  and  profperity  ; 
"  watching  for  its  prefervation  with  jealous  anxiety  ;  difcounte- 
"  nancing  whatever  may  fuggeft  even  a  fufpicion  that  it  can  in  any 
u  event  ever  be  abandoned  ;  and  indignently  frowning  upon  the 
"  firft  dawning  of  every  attempt  to  alienate  any  portion  of  our 
"  country  from  the  reft,  or  to  enfeeble  the  facred  ties  whkh  ROW 
44  link  together  the  various  parts.  For  this  you  have  every  in- 
u  ducement  of  fympathy  and  intereft.  Citizens,  by  birth  or 
"  choic,  of  a  common  country,  that  country  has  a  right  to  COR- 
u  center  your  affections.  The  name  of  American,  which  belongs 
4c  to  you  as  a  nation,  muft  always  exalt  the  juft  pride  of  patriotifm, 
u  more  than  any  title  taken  from  the  ftate  in  which  you  may  have 
u  been  born.  With  flight  difference  you  have  the  fame  religion, 
u  manners,  habits,  and  political  principles.  You  have  in  a  com- 
u  mon  caufe,  fought  and  triumphed  together  ;  the  independence 
"  and  liberty  you  poffefs,  are  the  work  of  joint  councils,  and  joint 
"efforts,  of  common  dangers,  fufferings  and  fucceiTes." 


• 


(         38         ) 

O  !  let  us  confider  that  our  country  is  the  common  mother  of  us 
all — the  cradle  of  our  exiilence — the  nurfery  of  our  youth — the 
guardian  of  our  manhood —  the  facrcd  circle  that  embraces  our 
wives,  our  parents,  our  children,  our  liberties,  our  laws  and  eve- 
ry thing  on  earth  dear  and  valuable  to  us.  She  is  alfo  the  precious 
bank  in  which  we  all  have,  in  common,  our  fhares,  and  muft 
therefore  bear  our  part  in  whatever  good  or  ill  befalls  her.  If  her 
liberty  be  deftroyed  none  of  us  can  efcape  the  chains.  If  her  cre^ 
dit  fink,  each  man's  fortune  links  with  it.  If  foreigners  prefs  our 
feamen,  beggar  our  merchants  and  ruin  our  trade,  every  man  fuf- 
fers. 

If  national  vice  abound,  if  luxury,  floth,  duelling  and  fedition 
prevail,  increafmg  the  debt  and  haftening*  the  downfall  of  the 
country  ;  every  individual  muft  bear  his  part  of  the  heart-ache  and 
wretchednefs  that  enfue.  On  the  contrary,  if  public  virtues  flou- 
rifh,  if  unanimity  in  council,  valour  in  the  field,  induftry  and  ceco- 
nomy  every  where  prevail ;  the  blefling  extends  to  all :  Everyman 
is  crowned  with  glory,  feafted  with  the  plenty,  and  partakes  in  the 
joy  that  gladdens  the  dear  common  mother  1 

O  for  Wafhkigton's  flaming  patriotifm  !  That  divine  cement 
of  nations  1  Without  which  a  people,  tho'  numerous  as  the  fands  of 
the  defart,  are  but  as  the  fands  of  the  defart,  loofe  and  fcattered 
before  every  blaft.  While  a  nation,  though  few  in  number,  but 
welded  together,  by  patriotifm,  and  edged  with  public  virtue,  be- 
come like  an  ax  of  fleel,  fufficient  to  cut  its  reftlefs  way  through 
whole  forefts  of  foes.  For  proof,  fee  the  little  republics,  of 
Greece  !  mere  mole-hills  on  the  map  of  nations  ;  but  nurferies  of 
immortal  patriots,  educated  in  the  fchool  of  virtue,  and  led  on  by 
Leonidas  and  Liberty.  See,  I  fay,  thefe  little  republics,  thefe 
virtuous  few,  this  noble  band  of  brothers,  invaded  by  the  great 
King  of  Perfia  at  the  head  of  an  army  of  at  leaft  fifteen  hundred 
thousand  men  !  Expectation  ftands  in  horror,  looking  to  fee  the 
Greeks  fuddenly  fwept  away  by  the  bofom  of  deftru6lion.  But, 
accuflomed  from  earlieft  infancy  to  love  their  country — invigorated 
by  rigid  temperance — enured  to  manly  toil — and  clofely  united  in 
the  fame  great  interefts,  this  handful  of  brave  republicans  met 
Xerxes  and  his  hoft  of  flaves,  and  gave  them  the  moft  fignal  over- 
throw ever  recorded  in  hiftory. 

But  no  nation  under  the  fun,  ever  exhibited  a  more  brilliant  dif- 
play  of  the  power  of  patriotifm  than  the  ancient  Romans.  When 
Carthage,  proud  Miftrefs  of  the  Sea,  made  war,  with  all  her 
wealth  againft  the  Roman  poverty,  Ihe  found  the  refult  very  differ- 


C        39       -) 

ent  from  her  expe&ations.  The  reafon  is  plain.  Gold  and  diver  may 
eafily  be  exhaufted,  but  public  virtue  and  fortitude  never  can. 
Even  after  loofmg  two  hundred  and  fifty  thoufand  of  their  beft 
troops,  the  Romans  would  not  hearken  to  any  terms.  "  No !  Let 
*'  us  die,  to  a  man,  rather  than  out-live  the  ruin  of  our  country," 
was  the  univerfal  cry.  Every  citizen  threw  afide  his  ownbufmefs 
and  preffed  to  take  up  arms  in  defence  of  his  country ;  and  not  on- 
ly refufed  to  receive  pay,  but  eagerly  offered  for  the  public  good, 
all  the  gold  and  filver  in  his  pofleflion.  The  behaviour  of  the  wo- 
men, to  their  immortal  honour,  was  equally  great  and  difmtereft- 
ed.  The  Romans  prevailed.  Indeed  it  is  hardly  poflible  for  hu- 
man force  to  prevail  againft  fuch  magnanimous  patriots  who  feel, 
that,  "  without  virtue,  life  is  pain  and  woe,  and  that  without  liber- 
"  ty,  even  virtue  mourns  and  looks  around  for  happiness  in  vain" 

Such  was  the  patriotifm  which  raifed  the  republics  of  ancient 
Greece  and  Rome  to  be  the  Miftrefles  of  the  world.  And  fuch, 
thro'  life,  was  the  patriotifm  of  Wafhington.  While  yet  a  youth, 
the  tender  down  hardly  formed  on  his  ruddy  cheek,  he  hears  that 
the  French  and  Indians  have  lifted  the  tomahawk  and  are  butcher- 
ing the  frontier  inhabitans.  He  fees  the  grim  ruffians  burfling  in- 
to the  unguarded  Cabin. — The  father  and  the  huiband,  {hot  down, 
lies  weltering  in  his  own  heart's  blood — while  the  wretched  mo- 
ther and  her  helplefs  little  ones,  with  heart-piercing  fhrieks,  and 
eyes  wild-flarting  from  their  fockets,  fly,  but  fly  in  vain,  from 
their  bloody  purfuers  ! — He  Harts  up  burning  for  vengeance.  The 
Alleghanies  are  not  feen  before  him  ;  rivers  fhrink  into  rills,  and 
iinmenfe  forefts  to  fcanty  groves.  Full-nerved  with  patriot  rage, 
he  rufhes  upon  the  murderers  of  his  countrymen,  as  the  bound- 
ing Lion  upon  the  wretch  who  has  invaded  his  brindled  cubs.—— 
Bloody  were  the  balls  of  his  rifles  in  the  battle  of  the  roaring 
Kanhaway,  when  the  painted  children  of  the  foe  fled  to  their  dif- 
tant  lands. 

And  in  1774,  when  Lord  North  had  refolved,  Uzzah-like,  to 
lay  his  unhallowed  hand  upon  the  facred  ark  of  our  liberties,  then 
it  was  that  the  patriotifm  of  Wafhington  broke  forth  in  a  blaze  of 
glory  to  himfelf,  and  of  honor  to  human  nature. 

He  faw,  with  aching  heart,  the  black  cloud  that  was  gathering 
over  his  country,  the  fearful  odds  marlhalled  in  dread  array  againft 
us  ;  thirteen  millions,  againft  three  !  Veteran  armies,  againft  raw 
militia!  Powerful  natives,  bridging  the  Atlantic,  againft  (loops  and 
fchooners  !  Britain,  in  fine,  wealthy,  warlike  Britain  coming  on, 
in  ftep-mother  wrath,  refolved  that  her  children  fhould  down  on 


c 


) 


marrow  bones  -and  take  her  yoke.  Poffefling  a  princely  fortune 
Waihington  might  eafily  have  flipped  away  from  a  ftorm  which, 
indeed,  he  had  very  little  of  tbit  world's  reason  to  perfuade  him 
to  encounter.  For  he  knew  very  well  what  fort  of  promotion  the 
Scotch  Lairds  met  with  in  1745,  and  had  abundant  caufe  to  expect, 
that,  in  cafe  of  equalfuccefs,  he  mould  be  equally  promoted. — 
And  befides,  he  had  no  children  for  whofe  dear  fakes  nature  might 
roufe  him  up  to  meet  fuch  rifks.  No  daughters,  meanly  ftudious 
of  ornaments  to  pleafe  the  enflavers  of  their  country ;  no  fons  to 
wear  the  galling  chain,  and  tread  lightly  in  prefence  of  her  haughty 
Lordlings.  Hence  one  of  his  European  friends  advifed  him  to 
quit  a  fcene  of  danger  to  which  he  had  fuch  (lender  ties,  and  fly 
with  him  to  the  fafe  and  pleafant  fhores  of  Europe.  u  What,  re- 
"  plied  Wafhington,  shall  I  forsake  my  mother,  because  she  is  in 
"  danger  ?"  The  other  obferved  that  Col.  Wafhington  had  not 
perhaps  duly  appreciated  the  pleafures,  he  was  renouncing,  the  dan- 
gers he  was  incurring.  "  God  forbid,  rejoined  Wafhington,  that 
"  /  tfoould  ever  appreciate  pleasure,  opposite  to  duty,  or  shrink 
"  from  dangers  when  my  country  calls.  No  !  I  bad  rather  suffer 
*'  with  her,  than  reign  'with  her  oppressors"  His  conduct  was 
agreeble  to  his  principles.  In  the  ever  memorable  1775,  he  em- 
braced his  weeping  confort,  and  went  forth  the  Leonidas  of  his 
country  refolving  to  fix  her  liberties  or  find  a  glorious  grave.  For 
feven  long  years  he  kept  the  fields  of  iron  war,  with  no  dainties, 
but  common  foldiers  fare  ;*  no  mufic,  but  claming  arms  and  thun- 
dering guns,  no  pleafures,  but  his  toils  and  watching  for  us.  At 
any  period  of  this  long  conflict,  he  might,  no  doubt,  have  exchan- 
ged our  liberties  for  myriads  of  mining  gold,  or  highefl  feats  of 
purpled  honor.  But  Wafhington  was  not  born  to  blaft  the  hopes 
of  millions,  or  bid  the  Genius  of  his  country  hang  her  head  and 
weep. 

Greece  and  Rome  have  boafted,  and  juftly  too,  of  their  great 
patriots,  who  after  rendering  immortal  fervices  to  their 
country,  would  accept  no  pecuniary  rewards.  Of  the  fame 
difmtcrefted  and  noble  quality  was  the  patriotifm  of  WASH- 
INGTON. For  after  having  fleered  the  trembling  bark  of  his 
country  through  all  the  ftorms  and  tempefts  of  a  perilous  war  ; 

*  A  gentleman  allured  me  that  dining  one  day  at  head-quartes  ift  company  with  a 
nwmbcr  of  officers,  he  expelled,  as  was  very  natural,  to  have  had  a  fine  fvigat  fonic 
.wood  drink,  fuch  as  Porte1 .  Punch,  Wine,  &c.  but  how  did  his  palate  fall,  on  hear- 
ing the  general  ca  1  out,  «'  Cume  gentlemen,  here's  plenty  of  Whiflcey  aud  water, 
«  or,  of 'water  and  Whiflcey  }  or  here'*  Whifky  by  hfelf,  cr  water  by  itfdf ;  d&a't  be 
«  baihfulbut  call  freely. 


(     41      ) 

after  having  by  t-he  help  of  the  Almighty,  conducted  her  in  fafe- 
ty  into  the  port  of  honourable  peace  and  glorious  independance, 
he  would  receive  no  Gold.  No:  Gold  is  the  counterpoife  of 
fervices  done ;  but  fay,  Americans!  what  Gold  could  counter- 
poife fervices  like  his,  when,  after  the  dread  explofion  at  York- 
town,  he  faw  the  black  ftorm  of  war  paffing  away,  and  the  fweet 
beams  of  liberty  gilding  again  our  happy  plains  ? 

The  patriotifm  of 'the  Roman  Emperor,  Alexander,  has  been 
celebrated  through  all  ages*  becaufe  he  was  never  known  to  give 
any  place  thro'  favour  or  friendiliip,  but  to'employ  thofe  only 
whom  bothhimfelf  and  the  Senate  looked  on  as  the  heft  qualified 
to  ferve  the  country.  In  our  -WASHINGTON  we  meet  this  great 
and  honed  Emperor  over. again.  For  in  choofmg  men  to  ferve 
his  country,  WASHINGTON  knew  no  recommendation  but  merit ; 
had  no  favourite  but  worth.  No  relations,  .however  near,  no 
friends,  however  dear,  flood  any  chance  for  places  under  him, 
provided  he  knew  men  better  qualified  to  fill  them.  His  great 
foul  was  fo  truly  republican,  fo  perfectly  abhorrent  of  every  thing 
like  selfishness,  that  during  the  whole  of  his  adminiilration  he 
was  never  known  to  advance  even  an~individual  of  his  own  name 
and  family. 

The  Britim,-with  good  reafon,  admire  and  extol  Admiral  Blake 
as  one  of  the  braveft  and  beft  of  Patriots,  becaufe,  though  he 
hal  no  love  for  Oliver  Cromwell,  yet  he  fought  like  a  hero  for 
him,  and  with  his  dying  breath  exhorted  his  men  u  to  love  tbcir 
country  as  a  common  mocker,  and,  no  matter  wbat  bands  the  go* 
•vzrnmcnt  might  cbancs  to  fall  into,  to  fight  for  her  like  good  chil- 
dren" 

The  fame  truly  filial  fpirit  was  in  WASHINGTON.  Equallv 
anxious  was  he  that  we  fliould  all  fo  dearly  love  our  country  as 
to  fhudder  at  the  idea  of  party  fpirit,  that  leaven  of  hell,  whofe 
fatal  fermentation  dilTolves  the  facred  cement  of  union,  and  in- 
troduces all  the  horrors  of  civil  war. 

The  Roman  hiftorians  have  extolled  their  Cincinnatus  to  the 
heavens,  becaufe  that  after  having,  in  a  day  of  great  public  dan- 
ger, taken  command  of  his  country's  forces,  and  entirely  defeated 
the  enemy,-'  he  haitened,  laden  with  honours,  to  the  Senate,  pi- 
ouily  refigning  the  powers  with  which  they  had  entrufted  him, 
and  then  cheerfully  returned  to  cultivate  his  llttls  farm  (of  four 
acres)  from  which  he  had  been  called  to  lead  the  armies  of  his 
country.  O  wondrous  man!  O  prodigy  and  pride  of  pureft  re- 
publican virtue!  May  each  exalted  American  imitate  thy  gl6ri- 
ous  example.  WASHINGTON  imitated!  WASHINGTON  equalled 
it !  For  after  having  begun,  continued,  and  ended  fur-  his  QOUII- 
try,  the  moil  glorious  revolution  that  this  or  any  other  age  ever 
beheld  ;  after  having,  through  his  unparalelled'  worth,  obtained  a 

F  confidence 


(     4»     ) 

confidence  and  power  fupreme  and  abfolate,*  he  h  after,  eel,  at  the 
call  of  duty,  to  reiign  that  power  into  the  revered  hands  of  Con- 
grefs,  and  returned  to  the  dignified  fcatron  of  a  virtuous  private 
citizen  ;  yes,  he  returned,  with  heaven  in  his  foul,  and  glory  e- 
ternal  on  his  name,  to  enjov  the  welcome  lhade,  and  delicious 
fruits,  of  that  bleflcd  tree  of  liberty,  which,  with  divine  help, 
his  own  right-hand  had  planted. 

WASHINGTON**  INDUSTRT. 

But  of  all  the  virtues  that  adorned  the  life  of  this  great  man, 
there  is  none  more  worthy  of  our  imitation  than  his  admirable 
induitry.  It  is  to  this  virtue  in  her  AVASIIINGTON,  that  America 
Hands  indebted  for  fervices  paib  calculation  ;  and  it  is  from  this 
virtue,  that  WASHINGTON  himfelf,  has  fnatched  a  wreathe  of  glo- 
ry, that  iliall  never  fade  away.  O  that  the  good  genius  of  Ame- 
lica  may  prevail  !  That  the  example-  of  this  her  favourite  for. 
may  but  be  univerfally  adopted  1  Soon  {hall  our  land  be  freed  front 
all  thofe  iloth-begotten  Demons  which  now  haunt  and  torment 
Xis  I  For,  whence  do  all  our  miferies  proceed,  but  from  our  lack 
of  induftry  ?  In  a  land  like  this,  which  heaven  has  bleffed  above 
all  lands:  A  land  abounding  with  the  fiih  and  fleih-pots  of  E- 
gypt,  and  flowing  with  the  choiceft  milk  and  honey  of  Canaan  ;  a 
land,  where  the  pooreft  Lazarus  may  get  his  fifty  'pence  a-day  for 
commoneil  labour;  and  buy  daintieit  bread  of  Corn  flour  for  less 
than  a  penny  a  pound !  Why  is  any  man  hungry,  or  thirity,  or 
fished,  or  in  prifon  ?  Why,  but  for  his  own  unpardonable  iioth  1 
But  alas  !  What  would  it  avail,  though  the  bleft  fliade  of  WASH- 
INGTON were  to  defcend  from  his  native  fkies,  and,  with  an  an- 
gel's voice,  recommend  induftry  as  the  handmaid  vtbcahh,  wealthy 
innocence,  and  kapphiess  to  man  !  A  notion  from  the  land  of  lies, 
has  talcen  too  deep  root  among  Come,  that  u  labour  is  a  low-lived 
tbtngyjZt  for  none  but  Negro-slaves  !  and  that  dress  and  pleasure 
are  the  only  accomplishments  for  a  gentleman  /"  But  does  it  be- 
come a  gentleman  to  faunter  about  living  on  the  charity  of  his 
relations — to  fufler  himfelf  to  be  dunned  bv  his  creditors — and, 
Jike  a  hunted  wolf,  to  fly  from  the  face' of  Sheriffs  and  Conftables? 
Is  it  like  a  gentleman  to  take  a  generous  woman  from  her  parents, 
and  reduce  her  to  beggary — to  fee  even  her  bed  fold  from  under 
her,  and  herfelf  and  weeping  infants  turned  out  of  doors  ?— Is  it 
like  a  gentleman  to  reduce'one's  children  to  rugs,  and  to  drive 
them, like  the  birds  of  heaven,  to  hedges  and  highways,  to  pick 

berries 

*  At  one  period  of  the  great  revolutionary  war  Conorefs  offered, 
and  actually  fettled  rhc  iopreme  power  on  oar  WASHINGTON,  bur., 
thinking  it  a  dangerous  precedent/ the  Hero  returned  it. 


(     43     ) 

berries,  filling  their  pale  bloated  bodies  with  difeafes  ?  Or  is  it 
like  a  gentleman  to  bring  up  one's  ions  in  {loth,  pleafure,  and 
drefs,  as  young  Noblemen,  and  then  leave  them  without  eftates, 
profeffion,  or  trade,  to  turn  gamblers,  {harpers,  or  horfe-thieves  ? 
"  From  sucb  gentlemen,  O  save  my  country,  Heaven!"  v/as 
WASHINGTON'S  perpetual  prayer,  the  e'mphatical  prayer  of  his 
life  and  great  example  !  In  the  ear  oi7  \vifdorn,  that  was  iuiird  in- 
ceffantly  calling  aloud,  "  He  is  the  real  gentleman,  who  cheer- 
fully contributes  his  every  exertion  to  accomplish  heaven's  favor- 
ite "defigns,  \\\Q  beauty,  order,  %,vi&bappiness  of  human  life 

whofe  induftry  appears  in  a  plentiful  houfe,  and  fniiiing  wife,  in 
the  decent  apparel  of  his  children,  and  in  their  good  education 
and  virtuous  manners — who  is  not  afraid  to  fee  any  man  on 
earth,  but  meets  his  creditor  wich  a  fmiling  countenance,  and 
with  the  v/elcome  mufic  of  gold  and  filver  in  his  hand — Who  ex- 
erts an  honeft  induftry  for  wealth,  that  he  may  become  as  a  wa- 
ter-courfe  in  a  thirfty  land,  a  fource  of  ref re  lament  to  a  thoufand 
poor." 

Yes,  my  dear  countrymen,  this  is  to  be  the  real  gentleman, 
whofe  life  is  filled  up  with  honorable  toils,  crowned  with  plenty, 
enjoyed  with  health,  dignified  by  ufefuinefs  and  fweetened  by 
the  bleffings  of  the  poor  1  How  charming  the  thought 

"  That  each  fweet  hour  flies  well  improv'd  away, 
ct  That  gen'rous  deeds  diftinguiih  ev'ry  day'J 

This  was  the  life,  this  the  example  let  by  WASHINGTON.  His 
whole  inheritance  was  but  a  fmall  tract  of  poor  broken  land  in 
Stafford  County,  oppofite  to  Frederickfburg,  (where  he  once 
lived)  and  a  few  Negroes.  This  appearing  utterly  infuflicient  to 
thofe  purpofes  of  honor  and  ufefuinefs,  with  the  charms  of 
which  his  mind  feems  to  have  been  early  fmitten,  he  refolded  to 
make  up  the  deficiency  by  dint  of  great  induftry  and  ce:onomy. 
For  thefe  virtues  how  excellent  I  how  rare  in  youth  1  WASHING- 
TON was  admirably  diftinguiihed  when  but  a  boy.  At  a  time 
when  many  young  men  have  no  higher  ambition  than  a  fine  coat 
and  a  frolic,  u  often  bave  I  seen  him,  fays  the  Reverend  Mr.  Lee 
Maffey,  riding  about  tbs  country  with  bis  surveying  instruments- 
at  bis  saddle,"  enjoying  the  double  fatisfaction,  of  obliging  his 
fellow  citizens  by  furveying  their  lands,  and  of  making  money, 
not  meanly  to  hoard,  but  gencroufly  to  lend  to  any  worthy  ob- 
ject that  aiked  it.  This  early  induftry  was  one  of  the  firft  fteps 
to  WASHINGTON'S  preferment.  It  attracted  on  him  the  notice 
and  admiration  of  all  his  very  numerous  acquaintance,  and, 
which  was  ftill  much  more  in  his  favor,  it  gave  fuch  ftrength  to 
his  conftitution,  fuch  vigor  to  his  mind,  fuch  an  ardor  and  fpiric 
for  adventure,  that  he  was  ready,  like  a  young  Lion,  to  leap  on 

any 


'.(44     ) 

any  glorious  enterprize,  no  matter  how  difficult  or  dangerous. 
Witnefs  the  expedition  from  Williamiburgh,  through  the  Indian 
country  to  the  Ohio,  which  he  undertook  for  Governor  Dinwid- 
die,  in  1773,  and  when  he  was  but  21.  Indeed  his  uncommon 
attachment  to  induftry  and  ufeful  life,  made  fuch  an  impreffion 
on  the  public  mind  in  his  favor,  that  by  the  time  he  was  one  and 
twenty  he  was  appointed  Major  and  adjutant  General  of  the  Vir- 
ginia forces.*  For  thefe  fervices  he  recieved  a  handfome  fala- 
.  ry  from  the  crown.  By  the  death  of  an  elder  brother  he  acquir- 
ed the  Mount-Vernon  eftate,  and  a  much  larger,  by  the  affections 
of  the  young  and  amiable  Mrs.  Martha  "Cuftis,  who,  in  the  year 
1759  and  27th  of  his  age,  with  her  hand  and  heart  give  him  pof- 
feflion  of  one  of  the  fineit  eftates  in  Virginia.  Here  was  a  rife  for 
you  !  a  rife  which  to  little  minds  would  have  appeared  a  fufficient, 
apology  for  sloth,  high  living,  and  the  gout.  £ut  on  WASHING- 
TON, whofe  induftry  was  founded  on  principle,  it  produced  no  o- 
ther  effe6l  than  gratitude  to  heaven,  and,  if  pofiible,  an  increafe 
of  exertion  to  gratify  more  amply  his  favorite  wifli,  the  wifli  to  be 
ufeful. 

•  Never  was  the  great  Alfred  more  anxious  to  improve  his  time 
than  our  WASHINGTON;  and  it  appears  that,  like  Alfred,  he  di- 
vided his  time  into  the  four  grand  departments  of  sleep,  devotion, 
recreation,  and  business.  On  the  hours  of  bufmefs,  whether  in 
his  own  or  in  his  country's  fervice,  he  would  allow  nothing  to  in- 
fringe. While  in  camp  no  company  however  illuflrious,  no  plea- 
fures  however  elegant,'  no  converfation  however  agreeable, 
could  prevail  on  him  to  negledl  his  bufmefs — The  moment  that 
bis  hour  of  duty  was  come,  he  would  fill  his  glafs  and  with  a  fmile 

call 


**  There  was  at  this  time  a  young  fellow  in  Williamiburgh,  by  the 
name  of  Jack  B —  who  pofiefled  a  considerable  vivacity,  great  good 
n'ature  and  feveral  accomplishments  of  the  boon  companion  fort  ;  he 
eoald  tell  a  good  ftory,  fing  agreeably,  fcrape  a  lin!e  on  the  fiddle, 
and  cut  as  many  capers  to  the  tune  of  old  Roger  as  any  Buck  a-going. 
— And  being,  befides  a  young  fellow  of  fortune,  and  fon  of  an  intimate 
acquaintance,  Jack  was  a  great  favorite  of  the  governor,  and  very 
much  at  his  houfe.  But  all  this  could  not  fave  poor  Jack  from 
the  twinges  of  envy.  For,  on  hearing  every  body  talk -in  the  praife 
of  Major  WASHINGTON,  he  coirld-not  help  faying  one  day  at  the  go- 
rernor's  table  '**  1  wonder  what  makes  the  people  fo  wrapped  up  in  Ma- 
'jor  Wctftnngton  /  1  think,  begging  yiur  excellency* s  pardon,  1  had  as 
good  a  right  to  expeft  a  majority  *'"  dh,  Jack,  replied  the  governor, 
ivhen  ive  ivxnt  a  little  diver  (ion,  we  fend  JQr  yon,  but  when  the  country 
ivantJ  a  man  for  bi/firt'fs,  ive  feud  for  Mejer  Washington '* 


(     45     ) 

call  out  to  his  friends  around  the  focial  board,  "  well  gentlemen 
here  is  bon  repos"*  and  immediately  withdraw  to  buiinefs. 

While  he  was  employed  in  chooling  a  place  on  the  Potamack, 
for  the  Federal  City,  his  induftry  was  no  lefs  remarkable.  Know- 
ing how  little  is  generally  done  before  breakfaft,  he  made  it  a 
rule  to  rife  fo  early  as  to  have  breakfaft  over,  and  be  on  horfe- 
back  by  the  time  the  fun  was  up.  Let  tlie  rifing  generation  .re- 
member that  he  was  then  fixty  years  of  age  ! 

On  his  farm,  his  huibandry  of  time  was  equally  exemplary.  He 
contemplated  a  great  object ;  an  object  worthy  of  WASHINGTON. 
He  aimed  at  teaching  his  countrymen  the  art  of  enriching  their 
lands,  and,  confequently,  of  rendering  the  condition  of  man  and 
beaft  more  plentiful  and  happy.  He  had  feen  thoufands  of  acres, 
which,  by  conftant  cultivation,  had  loft  the  power  of  covering 
their  nakednefs  even  with  a  fuit  of  humble  fedge  ;  he  had  feen 
thoufands  of  wretched  cattle,  which,  driven  out  houfelefs  and 
haylefs  into  the  eold  wintry  rains,  prefented  fuch  trembling 
fpe£tacles  of  ftarvation  and  mifery  as  were  more  than  enough  to 
Hart  the  tear  into  pity's  eye.  To  remedy  thefe  cruel  evils, 
(which  certainly  they  are,  for  he  who  lent  us  thefe  animals,  ne- 
ver, furely,  meant  that  we  fliould  make  their  lives  a  curfe  to 
them,  much  lefs  to  our  children,  hardened  by  fuch  daily  lights  of. 
mifery)  WASHINGTON  generoully  fet  himfelf  to  make  artificial 
meadows,  to  cultivate  fields  of  clover,  and  to  raife  the  moft  nu- 
tritious vegetables,  fuch  as  Cabbage,  Turnips,  Scarcity  and  Po- 
tatoes j  of  which  lad  article  he  planted  in  one  year  700  bufhels  ! 

To 

*  Bon  repos,  is  a  French  cant  for  good  night.  WASHINGTON  drank 
it  as  a  fignal  to  break  up  ;  for  the  moment  the  company  had  fwal- 
lowed  the  General's  bon  repos,  it  was  hats  and  off.  General  WAYNE, 
who  happily  for  America,  underftood  fighting  better  than  French, 
ha<J  fome  how  or  other  taken  up  a  notion,  that  this  fame  bon  repos, 
to  whom  WASHINGTON  always  made  fuch  confcience  of  giving  his 
lad  bumper,  niuft  have  been  fome  warrior  of  the  times  of  old.  Hav- 
ing by  fome  extraordinary  luck  gotten  hold  of  two  or  three  dozen  of 
good  old  wine,  he  invited  a  parcel  of  hearty  fellow-officers  to  dine 
with  him  and  help  him  to  break  them  to  the  health  of  America.  Soon 
as  the  cloth  was  removed  and  the  bottles  on  the  table,  the  hero  of 
Stony  Point  cried  out  '*  corns  my  brave  fellows,  f  II your  giaffes,  here's' 
old  bon  repos  forever."  The  officers  were  thunderftrnck,  but  having 
turned  off  their  glades,  rofe  up  one  and  all,  to  go.  "  Hey-day  !  what's 
all  this,  gentlemen  what's  all  this  ?  why  did  not  you  drink  bon  repos 
or  good  night  ?  "  what!  is  that  the  meaning  of  it?  "  Yess'  "  Well 
then  damn  bon  repos,  and  take  your  feats  again,  for  by  the  life  of 
WASHINGTON,  you  (han't  ftir  a  peg,  till  we  have  itarted  every  drop 
of  our  drink.'1 


(     46     ) 

To  render  thefe  vaft  fup plies  of  food  the  more  beneftdial  to  his 
cattle,  he  built  houfes  of  ihelter  for  them  all.  u  He  shewed  me  a 
barn,  fays  Briffot,  upwards  of  a  hundred  feet  square,  and  of  brick, 
designed  as  a  store-bouse  for  his  corn,  potatoes,  turnips,  &c.  a- 
round  which  he  had  constructed  stables  of  an  amazing  length,  for 
his  cattle"  every  one  of  which  had  a  flail  well  littered  with 
leaves  or  ftraw  ;  and  a  rack  and  manger  well  furniftied  with  hay 
and  provender. 

The  pleafure  and  profits  ariiing  from  fuch  an  arrangement,  are 
incalculable.  How  delicious  mail  it  have  been  to  a  man  of 
WASHINGTON'S  feelings,  to  reflecl;  that,  even  in  the  worft  of 
weather,  every  creature,  on  his  extenfive  farms,  was  warm  and 
comfortably  provided!  To  have  feen  his  numerous  flocks  and 
herds,  gamboling  around  him  thro*  excefs  of  joy,  and  fullnefs  of 
fat !  To  have  beheld  his  fteps  wafhed  with  butter,  and  his  dairy 
floated  with  rivers  of  milk!  To  have  feen  his  once  naked  fields 
and  frog-croaking  pocofins,  now  by  clearance  or  manure  convert- 
ed into  meadows,  (landing  thick  with  heavy  timothy  and  clo- 
ver !  While  his  farm-yards  were  piled  with  fuch  quantities  of 
litter  and  manure  as  afforded  a  conflantly  increaiing  fertility  to 
his  lands  I 

Here  was  an  employment  worthy  of  WASHINGTON;  an  em- 
ployment which  we  might  indeed  have  expected  from  him,  who, 
through  life,  had  fludied  the  bed  interefts  of  his  countrymen  ; 
who,  firft,  as  a  soldier,  had  defended  them  from  flavery  and 
crowned  them  with  liberty ;  then  as  a  flatefman,  had  preferved 
them  from  war,  and  fecured  to  them  all  the  bleHings  of  peace  ; 
and  now,  as  the  lafl  but  not  leaft  fervice  of  his  life,  was  teach- 
ing them  the  great  arts  of  improving  their  farms,  multiplying 
their  cattle,  enriching  their  lands,  and  thus  pouring  a  flood  of  plen- 
ty and  of  comfort  thro' the  joyful  habitations  of  man  and  beafl. 

Full  of  this  greatly  benevolent  idea,  no  wonder  that  he  was  fo 
frugal  of  his  time,  and  that,  tho'  the  mod  hofpitable  of  all  the 
hofpitable  Virginians,  he  would  not  fufferthe  fociety  of  his  dear- 
eft  friends  to  take  him  entirely  from  his  bufinefs.  Long  accuf- 
tomed  to  find  his  happinefs  in  doing  his  duty,  he  had  attained 
to  that  Royal- Arch  degree  of  virtue,  as  to  be  refllefs  and  uneafy 
while  duty  was  neglecled.  Hence  of  all  men  that  ever  lived, 
WASHINGTON  was  the  mod  rip-idly  obfervant  of  thofe  hours  of 
bufinefs  which  were  neceffary  to  the  fuccefsful  management  of 
his  vaft  concerns.  "  Gentlemen"  he  would  often  fay  to  his 
friends  who  vifitecl  him,  "  /  must  beg  leave  of  absence  a  few 
hours  in  the  forenoon  ;  here  is  plenty  of  amusements,  books,  mu* 
sic,  &c.  and  consider  yourselves  at  home,  and  be  happy"  He 
'wame  in  about  12  o'clock,  and  then,  as  if  animated  by  the  con- 

Fcioufn«e£s 


(    47     ) 

fcioufnefs  of  having  done  his  duty,  and  that  all  was  going  on 
right,  he  would  give  himfelf  up  to  his  friends  and  to  decent 
mirth  the  reft  of  the  evening.  But  his  mornings  were  always  his 
own.  Long  before  the  fun  had  peeped  into  the  chambers  of  the 
fluggard,  WASHINGTON  was  on  horfeback  and  out  among  his  o- 
verfeers  and  fervahts,  and  neither  himfelf,  nor  any  about  him 
were  allowed  to  eat  the  bread  of  idlenefs.  The  happy  effe&s 
of  fuch  induftry  were  obvious.  Well  manured  and  tilled,  his 
lands  yielded  a  grateful  return,  and  it  was  at  once  pleafing  and  a- 
itonifhing  to  behold  the  immenfe  quantities  of 'fine  hay,  of  fat 
meats  and  choice  grain  that  were  raifed  on  his  farms.  His  fer- 
vants  fared  plentifully,  his  cattle  rarely  had  the  hollow-born, 
and  the  furplus  of  his  produce,  fold  to  the  merchants,  furniihed 
bread  to  the  needy,  and  a  revenue  to  himfelf  more  than  fufficient 
to  defray  his  vaft  expenditures,  and  to  fpread  a  table  of  true  Vir- 
ginia hofpitality  for  thofe  crowds  of  friends  and  foreigners  whom 
affe6lion  or  curofity  led  to  vifit  him. 

O  !  Divine  Induftry  ?  Queen-Mother  of  all  our  virtues  and  of 
all  our  bleffings  !  What  is  there  of  GREAT  or  of  GOOD  in  this 
wide  world  that  fprings  not  from  thy  royal  bounty  ?  And  O  ! 
thou  infernal  lloth  !  Fruitful  fountain  of  all  our  crimes  and  cur- 
ies !  What  is  there  of  mean  or  of  miferable  in  the  lot  of  man 
that  flows  not  from  th)  hellifh  malice  ? 

What  was  it  that  betrayed  David,  otherwife  the  beft  of  kings, 
into  the  worft  of  crimes  ?  IDLENESS.  Sauntering  about  idly 
on  the  terrace  of  his  palace,  he  faw  the  naked  beauties  of  the 
diftant,  bathing  Bathmeba.  Luft,  adultery  and  murder  were  the 
ccnfequences. 

What  was  it  that  brought  on  a  ten  years  war  between  the 
Greeks  and  Trojans  ?  IDLENESS.  Young  Paris  the  Coxcomb  of 
Troy,  having  nothing  to  do,  ftrolls  over  to  the  court  of  Menelaus, 
(a  Greek  Prince)  whofe  beauteous  wife,  Hellen,  the  black-eyed 
Queen  of  love,  he  corrupts  and  runs  off  with  to  Troy.  A  bloody 
war  enfues  ;  Paris  is  {lain  ;  his  Father,  brothers,  and  myriads  o'f 
wretched  fubje&s  are  flaughtered  ;  and  Troy,  the  fmeft  City  of 
all  Afia,  is  reduced  to  aflies  ! 

What  was  it  that  hurried  poor  Mr.  A d  to  that  horrid  acl: 

of^fuicide  which  froze  the  blood  of  all  who  heard  it  ?  Idlenefs. — 
His  young  wife  was  all  that  we  could  conceive  of  fweetnefs, 
tenderneis  and  truth  in  ai  Angel's  form  ;  and  his  three  beaute- 
ous babes  were  the  three  graces  in  fmiiing  infancy.  But !  Oh 
wretched  man  !  Having  nothing  to  do,  he  ftrolled  to  a  tavern  and 
to  a  card-table,  where  he  loft  his  all !  Five  thousand  pounds^ 
lately  fettled  on  him  by  a  fond  father  !  He  awakes  to  horrors  un- 
utterable !  What  will  become  of  his  ruined  wife  !  his  beggared 
ka-bes  !  Believing  the  torments  of  th*  damned  far  more  tolerable, 

he 


(     48     ') 

he  drives  thefcorching  bullets  thro'  his  biain,  and  files  a  fhriek* 
ing  ghofc  to  join  the  mournful  throng  ! 

What  is  the  caufe  of  all  that  horrid  uproar  which  often  throws 
our  towns  into  fuch  fear  and  trembling,  on  the  evenings  of  our 
great  hollidays  ?  Idlenefs.  Merciful  heavens  !  what  wild  tumul- 
tuous throng  is  that,  on  yonder  restless,  heaving  field  ?  What 
clouds  of  dufl!  What  ftunning  din  of  ten  thoufand  difcordant 
voice*,  wboQping  and  hallooing,  cursing  and  swearing  !  Why  fure- 
ly  the  Devil's  millennium  is  begun,  and  all  hell  has  turned  out  to 
celebrate  the  joyous  occafion  1  No,  it  is  no  more  than  the  tag- 
rag-and-bob-tail  of  a  town,  juft  efcaped  from  the  fobering  hand 
of  industry,  and  got* out  there  together  with  {harpfhiw  in  pocket, 
drinking  and  roaring,  racing  and  cock-fighting,  betting,  boxing, 
and  playing  the  D — 1  in  a  thoufand  (hocking  fliapes. 

O  fad  fight !  See  yon  tall  genteel  young  man,  in  powder  and 
ruffles,  Handing  before  his  judges,  trembling  like  an  Afpen,  and 
pale  and  blank  as  the  picture  of  guilt ;  while  in  the  crowded 
court-houfe,  every  countenance,  filled  with  pity  or  contempt,  is 
fixed  upon  him.  Alas  I  what  could  have  brought  him  to  this  ? 
Idlenefs.  His  father,  happening  to  poflefs  500  acres  of  poor 
Land,  and  a  few  Negroes,  thought  it  would  be  an  eternal  dif- 
grace  to  his  family  to  bring  up  this  fon  (though  he  had  ITS  any)  to 
be  a  mechanic.  No,  he  muft,  like  the  reft  of  his  brothers,  live  the 
fine  gentleman.  Grown  to  man's  eftate,  and  having  no  profefiion, 
trade  or  habit  of induftry  to  fupport  this  pleafant  life,  he  took  to 
Horse-stealing  I  If  we  had  leifure  to  wait,  we  fhould  prefently 
fee  this  unhappy  youth,  on  receiving  fentehce  of  death,  bursting 
out  into  fobs  and  cries  fufficient  almoft  to  make  us  wlili  we  had 
never  been  born.  But  let  us  make  hafte  and  leave  thefe  accur- 
fed  fcenes  of  shame,  mifery  and  death,  into  which  idleness  never 
fails  to  bring  poor  deluded  youth.  Yes,  let  us  hurry  away  from 
thefe  haunts  of  horror,  and  joyfully  return  to  our  beloved  WASH- 
INGTON and  to  his  health — wealth — and  glory-giving  goddefs, 
industry. 

What  is  it  that  braces  the  nerves,  purifies  the  blood,  and  hands 
down  the  flame  of  life,  bright  and  fparkling,  to  old  age  1  What  but 
rosy-  cheektd industry.  See  WASHINGTON  ib  invigorated  by  con- 
itant  exercife,  that,  tho'  clofe  on  the  heeiof  three  fcore  and  ten 
when  he  feil  aileep,  he  was  fiill  frefli  as  atybr/y,  ftraight  as  a  young 
Grenadier,  and  girding  on  his  patriot  fword,  ready,  once  more  at 
his  country's  call,  to  lead  his  eager  warriors  to  the  field.  What  is 
it  that  preserves  the  morals  of  young  men,  andfecures  to  them  all 
the  bleliings  of  unblemiihed  character  and  unbroken  health  ? 
'What  but  snow-robed  Industry,  See  WASHINGTON,  under  the 
guardianihip  of  indntlry,  walked  the  fiippery  paths  of  youth 

fafe 


(    49    ) 

fafe  and  uncorrupt,  though  born  in  a  country  whofe  fertility  and 
climate  furnifhed  both  the  means  and  the  invitation  to  vice.  Ear- 
ly fiiiitten  with  the  love  of  glory  ;  early  engaged  in  the  noble 
purfuit  of  knowledge,  of  independence,  and  of  ufefulnefs,  he  had 
no  eyes  to  fee  bad  examples  nor  enfnaring  objects,  no  ears  to 
hear  horrid  oaths  nor  obfcene  language,  no  leifure  for  impure  paf- 
fion  nor  criminal  amours  ;  hence  he  enjoyed,  O  !  blefTed  gift  of 
induftry  !  that  innocence,  that  purity  of  foul,  which  is  rightly 
called  its  '  sunshine /  and  which  impreffed  a  dignity  on  his  cha- 
racler,  and  gave  him  a  beauty  and  lovelinefs  in  the  eyes  of  men, 
that  contributed  more  to  his  rife  in  the  world  than  young  people 
are  aware.  And  what  is  it  that  raifes  a  young  man  from  poverty 
to  wealth,  from  obfcurity  to  never-dying  fame  ?  What  but  Indus- 
try !  See  Wafhington,  born  of  humble  parents,  and  in  humble 
circumftances — born  in  a  narrow  nook  and  obfcure  corner  of  the 
Britrfh  Plantations  !  yet,  lo  1  what  great  things  wonder-working 
induftry  can  bring  out.  of  this  unpromifing  Nazareth  ?  While  but 
a  youth,  Wafhington  manifefted  fuch  a  noble  contempt  of  sloth, 
luch  a  manly  fpirit  to  be  always  learning  or  doing  fomething  ufe- 
ful  or  clever,  that  he  was  ihe'praise  of  all  who  knew  him.  And, 
though  feveral  years  yet  on  the  forenoon  fide  of  twenty,  fo  high 
were  the  hopes  entertained  of  him,  he  was  appointed  a  county 
furveyor  !  Arduous  tafk  !  But  WASHINGTON'S  induftry  was  a 
full  match  for  it.  Such  was  the  alertnefs  with  which  he  carried 
on  his  furveys ;  fuch  the  neatnefs  and  accuracy  of  his  plats  and 
drafts,  that  he  met  with  univerfal  applaufe.  Full-fed^  and  flufli- 
ed  with  fo  much  fare  of  praise,  a  fare  of  all  others  the  moft 
toothfome  and  wholefome  to  generous  minds,  our  young  Eagle 
began  now  to  flap  his  wings  of  honed  ambition,  and  to  pant  for 
nobler  darings.  A  fair  occaiion  was  foon  offered  ;  a  dangerous 
expedition  through  the  Indian  wilds,  as  before  mentioned,  to  the 
French  Mamelukes,  on  the  Ohio.  Nobody  elfe  having  a  ftomach 
to  fuch  an  adventure,  WASHINGTON'S  offer  was  gladly  accepted, 
and  he  executed  that  hazardous  and  important  truft  with  fuch 
diligence  and  propriety,  that  he  received  the  thanks  of  the  gover- 
nor and  council.  Honors  came  down  on  him  now  in  ihowers  : 
He  was  appointed  Major  and  Adjutant  General  of  the  Virginia 
forces — then  a  Colonel — after,  a  member  of  the  houfe  of  Burgef- 
fes — next,  Generaliffimo  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States  ;  and 
finally,  Chief  Magiftrate  of  the  Union. 

All  thefe  great  and  arduous  appointments  ferved  but  the  more 
to  difplay  the  wonderful  effects  of  his  induftry.  For  fuch  was  his 
oeconomy  of  time,  and  ib  admirable  his  method  and  regularity  in 
doing  bufinefs,  that  he  always  kept  a-head  of  it.  No  letters  of 

G  confequence 


(    5°    ) 

confluence  were  unanfwered — no  reasonable  expectations"  were 
difappointed — no  neceffary  information  was  ever  negle6led. — 
Neither  the  Congrefs,  nor  the  governors  of  the  feveral  ftates,  nor 
the  officers  of  his  army,  nor  the  Britifti  generals,  nor  even  the  o- 
verfeers  and  ftewards  on  his  farms,  were  uninformed  of  what  he 
expe6ted  from  them.  Nobody  concerned  with  him,  was  idle  or 
fretted  for  want  of  knowing  what  to  do. 

O  admirable  man  i  O  great  Preceptor  to  his  country  !  no  won- 
der every  body  honoured  him  who  honoured  every  body  ;  for  the 
pooreft  beggar  that  wrote  to  him  on  bufinefs,  was  fure  to  receive 
a  fpeedy  and  decifive  anfwer.  No  wonder  every  body  loved  him, 
who,  by  his  unwearied  attention  to  the  public  good,  manifefted 
the  tendered  love  for  every  body.  No  wonder  that  his  country 
delighted  to  honor  bim^  who  {hewed  fuch  a  high  fenfe  of  their 
honors,  that  he  would  not  allow  even  a  leaf  of  them  to  wither  ; 
but  fo  watered  them  all  with  the  refreihing  ft  reams  of  his  induf- 
try,  that  they  continued  to  bloom  with  ever-increafirvg  glory  on 
his  head. 

Since  the  day  that  God  created  man  on  the  earth,  none  ever 
difplayed  the  power  of  induftry  more  fign ally  than  did  GEORGE 
WASHINGTON.  Had  he,  as  Prince  of  Wales,  or,  as  Dauphin  of 
France,  rendered  fuch  great  fervices,  or  attained  fuch  immortal 
honours,  it  would  not  have  feemed  fo  marvellous  in  our  eyes. — 
But,  that  a  poor  young  man,  with  no  King,  Lords,  nor  Com- 
mons to  back  him  ;  with  no  Princes,  nor  Whores  of  Princes,  to 
curry  favor  for  him — with  no  gold  but  his  virtue,  no  filver  but 
his  induftry,  fhould  with  this  old-faihioned,  King  David's  coin, 
have  ftolen  away  the  hearts  of  all  the  American  Ifrael,  and  front 
a  fheep-cot,  have  afcended  the  throne  of  his  country's  affections, 
and  gotten  himlelf  a  name  among  the  mighty  ones  of  the  earth  I 
This  is  marvellous  indeed!  It  is  furely  the  nobleft  panegyric  e- 
ver  yet  paid  to  that  great  virtue,  induftry,  which  has  "  length 
of days  in  her  right-band^  and  in  bcr  left-band  riches  and  honors" 

Reader  I  Go  thy  way,  think  of  WASHINGTON,  and  HOPE. • 

Though  humble  thy  birth,  low  thy  fortune,  and  few  thy  friends* 
Hill  think  of  WASHINGTON,  and  HOPE.  Like  him,  honour  thy 
God  and  delight  in  glorious  toil  ;  then,  like  him,  "  thou  shalt 
stand  before  kings  ;  ibou  sbalt  not  stand  before  common  men." 

The  motives  to  induftry  are  as  numerous  as  HEALTH,  INNO- 
CENCE, LONGEVITY,  INDEPENDENCE,  and  in  fhort,  all  the  Honor? 
and  Felicities  that  man  can  enjoy  between  the  cradle  and  the 
grave.  But  among  thefe  there  is  none  fo  animating  to  a  gener- 
mind,  as  the  godlike  pleaiure  it  affords  of  doing  GOOD. 

WASHING* 


5< 

WASHINGTON'S  BENEVOLENCE. 

If  ever  man  rejoiced,  in  the  divine  adminiftration,  and  cordial- 
ly endeavoured  to  imitate  it,  by  diffuiing  bleflings  around  him,  it 
was  WASHINGTON.  Taught  by  religion,  that  "  God  is  love" 
and  that  he  muft,  by  the  laws  of  his  own  nature,  delight  mod  in 
thofe  of  his  rational  creatures  who  moft  referable  him  in  love,  and 
in  doing  good  to  their  brethren. — Taught  by  experience,  that  be- 
twixt souls,  love  is  the  only  principle  of  union  and  of  blifs,  which 
by  uniting  our  hearts  gives  us  the  fulleft  and  fweeteft  par- 
ticipation of  each  other's  joys,  and  at  the  fame  time  enables  us  to 
bear  one  another's  infirmities  and  injuries,  with  a  brotherly 
generofity. — Taught  by  observation,  that  love  is  the  only  cofme- 
tic,  or  beautifier :  that  however  youth,  beauty,  and  wit  may* 
dazzle  for  a  moment,  it  is  goodnefs  alone  that  can  captivate  our 
hearts  forever  ;  convinced,  I  fay,  of  thefe  three  precious  perqui- 
fites  of  lore,  WASHINGTON  feems  early  to  have  been  fmitten  with 
her  heavenly  charms,  and  early  to  have  ftudied  that  goodnefs 
which  made  him  fo  fingularly  the  delight  of  all  mankind.  It  was 
this  amiable  quality  which  compleated  the  character  of  our 
WASHINGTON,  and  by  fpreading  over  his  great  virtues  and  ta- 
lents the  fweetly-beaming  veil  of  goodnefs,  rendered  him  at  once 
the  moft  endearing  and  venerable  of  human  beings. 

The  Marquis  De  Ghaftellux,  who  viiited  him  in  camp,  t?lls  us 
that  he  was  aftoniflied  and  delighted  beyond  meafure,  to  fee  this 
great  American  living  among  his  officers  and  men,  as  a  father  a- 
mong  his  children,  who  at  once  revered  and  loved  him  with  a 
filial  tendernefs. 

Briflbt,  another  famous  French  traveller,  aflures  us,  that, 
throughout  the  continent,  every  body  fpoke  of  WASHINGTON  as 
of  a  father. 

This  deareft  and  bed  of  all  appellations,  "  The  father  of  bis 
country,"  was  the  precious  fruit  of  that  noble  fpiritof  benevolence 
which  he  fo  carefully  cultivated  through  every  age  and  ftage  of 
his  life.  A  fingular  inftance  of  which  we  meet  with  in  1754, 
and  the  22,d  year  of  his  age. 

He  was  ftationed  at  Alexandria  with  his  regiment,  the  only  one 
in  the  colony,  and  of  which  he  was  Colonel.  There  happened 
at  this  time  to  be  an  election  in  Alexandria  for  members  of  the 
Affembiy,  and  the  conteft  ran  high  between  Colpnel  George 
Fairfax  and  Mr.  Elzey.  WASHINGTON  was  the  warm  friend  of 
Fairfax,  and  a  Mr.  Payne  headed  the  friends  of  Elzey.  A  dif- 
pute  happening  to  take  place  in  the  Court-houfe  yard,  WASHING- 
TON,  a  thing  very  uncommon  with  him,  got  warm,  and,  which 
was  ftill  more  uncommon,  faid  fomething  that  offended  Payne, 

where* 


(       53       ) 

whereupon  the  little  gentleman,  who,  though  but  a  cub  in  size^ 
was  the  old  Lyon  in  heart,  railed  his  flurdy  hickory,  and,  at  a 
fingle  blow,  brought  our  hero  to  the  ground.  Several  of  WASH- 
INGTON'S officerg  being  prefent,  whipped  out  their  cold  Irons  in 
an  inftant,  and  it  was  looked  that  there  would  have  been  murder 
off-hand.  To  make  bad  worfe  ;  his  regiment  hearing  how  he  had 
been  treated,  bolted  out  from  their  barracks,  with  every  man  his 
weapon  in  his  hand,  threatening  dreadful  vengeance  on  thofe 
•who  had  dared  to  knock  down  their  beloved  Colonel.  Hap- 
pily for  Mr.  Payne  and  his  party,  WASHINGTON  recovered 
time  enough  to  go  out  and  meet  his  enraged  foldiers,  and  after 
thanking  them  for  this  expreffion  of  their  love,  affured  them 
that  he  was  not  hurt  in  the  leaft,  and  begged  them,  as  they 
loved  him  or  their  duty,  to  return  peaceably  to  their  barracks. 
As  for  himfelf,  he  went  to  his  room,  generoufly  chaftifing  his  im- 
prudence which  had  thus  ftruck  out  a  ipark,  that  had  like  to  have 
thrown  the  whole  town  into  a  flame.  Finding,  on  mature  re- 
fieftion,  that  he  had  been  the  aggreffor,  he  refolved  to  make  Mr. 
Payne  honorable  reparation  by  aiking  his  pardon  on  the  morrow  1 
No  fooner  had  he  made  this  noble  refolution,  than,  recovering 
that  delicious  gaiety,  which  ever  accompanies  good  purpoles  in  a 
virtuous  mind,  he  went  to  a  ball  in  town  that  night  and  behaved 
as  pleafantly  as  though  nothing  had  happened :  Glorious  proof 
that  great  fouls,  like  great  fliips,  are  not  affected  by  thofe  little 
puffs  which  would  overfet  feeble  minds  with  paffion,  or  fink  them 
with  fpleen  1 

The  next  day  he  went  to  a  tavern,  and  wrote  a  polite  note  to 
Mr.  Payne,  whom  he  requefted  to  meet  him.  Mr.  Payne  took 
It  for  a  challenge,  and  repaired  to  the  tavern,  not  without  ex- 
peeling  to  fee  a  pair  of  piftols  produced.  But  what  was  his  fur- 
prife  on  entering  the  chamber  to  fee  a  decanter  of  wine  and  glaf- 
les  on  the  table  I  WASHINGTON  arofe,  and,  in  a  very  friendly 
manner  met  him,  and  gave  him  his  hand.  u  Mr.  Payne,  faid  he, 
"  to  err  fame  times  is  nature  ;  to  rectify  error,  is  always,  glory. 
tc  I  find  I  was  wrong  in  the  affair  of  yellerday,  you  have  had,  I 
"  think,  fome  fatisfadlion  ;  and  if  you  think  that  fufficient,  here's 
41  my  hand,  let  us  be  friends." 

Admirable  youth  I  Noble  fpeech  !  No  wonder  frnce  it  charms 
us  fo  that  it  had  fnch  an  effect  on  Mr.  Payne,  who  from  that 
moment  became  themoft  enthufiaftic  admirer  and  friend  of  WASH- 
INGTON, and  ready  at  any  time,  for  his  fake,  to  charge  up  to  a  bat- 
tery of  two  and  forty  pounders. 

What  a  leffon  for  our  young  countrymen  !  Had  WASHINGTON 
been  one  of  the  race  of  little  men,  how  fadly  different  would  have 
been  his  conducl  on  this  occafion !  Inftead  of  going  that  night 

tf 


(     53    ) 

to  the  ball,  and  acting  the  lively  agreeable  friend,  as  if  nothing 
had  happened,  he  would,  like  an  angry  viper  that  had  been  trod 
on,  have  retired  to  his  chamber.  There  he  would  have  found 
no  'fuch  entertainments  as  WASHINGTON  had  at  his  ball;  no 
fprightly  muiic — no  delicious  wines— no  fweetly  fmiling  friends: 
on  the  contrary,  all  the  tortures  of  a  foul  brooding  over  its  in- 
dignities, until  reflection  had  whipped  it  up  into  pangs  of  rage 
unutterable,  while  all  the  demons  of  hell  with  blood-ftained 
torches  pointing  at  his  bleeding  honor,  cried  out  revenge  !  re- 
venge !  revenge  1  There  in  his  chamber  he  would  have  pafled  the 
gloomy  night,  in  preparing  his  piftols,  moulding  his  balls,  or  with 
furious  looks,  and  hard-gritted  teeth,  driving  his  bullets  through 
the  body  of  his  enemy  chalked  on  the  wall.  The  next  morning 
would  have  feen  him  on  the  field,  and,  in  language,  lately  heard 
in  this  flate,  calling  out  to  his  hated  antagonirt,  Tou  have  injured 
me,  Sir,  beyond  reconciliation,  and  by  G — d  I  will  put  you  to  death, 
if  I  can*  While  his  antagonift,  in  a  ftyle  equally  mufical  and 
chriftian,  rejoins,  -J&ll  and  be  damned!  Pop  go  the  piftols,  down 
tumbles  one  of  the  combatants  ;  while  the  murderer,  with  kfiock- 
ing  knees  and  looks  of  Cain,  flies  from  the  avenger  of  blood.  The 
murdered  man  is  carried  to  his  houfe,  a  ghaftly,  bloody  corpfe. — 
Merciful  God  !  what  a  fcene  enfues  !  feme  are  ftupified  with 
horror,  others  fink  as  lifelefs  to  the  floor.  His  tender  Mers, 
wild-fcrearaing  with  defpair,  throw  themfelves  on  their  dead 
brother,  and  kifs  his  ice-cold  lips  ;  while  his  aged  parents,  crufti- 
ed  under  unutterable  woe,  go  down  broken-hearted  to  the  grave. 
Thus  bloody  and  miferable  might  havebe.en  the  end  of  WASH- 
INGTON or  of  Mr.  Payne,  had  WASHINGTON  been  one  of  thofe 
poor  deluded  young  men,  who  are  determined  to  be  great,  and  to 
be  talked  of  in  news-papers,  in  fpite  of  God  or  devil.  But  WASH- 
INGTON was  not  born  to  exemplify  thofe  horrid  tragedies,  which 
cowards  create  in  fociety  by  pufillanimoufly  giving  way  to  their 
bad  paflions.  No!  he  was  born  to  teach  his  countrymen,  what 
fvveet  peace  and  harmony  might  for  ever  fmile  in  the  habitations 
of  men,  if  all  had  but  the  courage,  like  himfelf,  to  obey  the  fa- 
cred  voice  of  JUSTICE  and  of  HUMANITY.  By  firmly  obeying 
thefe,  he  preferved  his  hands  unftaine^  by  the  blood  of  a  fellow 
man  ;  and  his  foul  unharrowed  by  the  cruel  tooth  of  never-dying 
remorfe.  By  firmly  obeying  thefe,  he  won  thofe  fmiles  of  God 
which  convey  to  the  fouls  of  the  virtuous,  that  joy  which  the 
ftranger  meddleth  not  with.  By  firmly  obeying  thefe,  he  prefer- 
ved a  life,  which  crowned  with  deeds  of  Juftice  and  benevolence, 
has  brought  more  glory  to  God,  more  good  to  man,  and  more  ho- 
nor to  himfelf,  than  any  life  ever  lived  fin ce  the  race  of  man  be- 
gan. 

Sons 


(-    54    ) 

Sons  of  Columbia !  would  you  know  what  is  true  courage  ?  fee 
it  defined,  fee  it  exemplified  in  this  a6l  of  your  great,  young  coun- 
tryman. Never  man  poffeffed  a  more  undaunted  courage  than 
WASHINGTON  :  but  in  him,  this  noble  quality  was  the  life-guard 
of  his  reafon,  not  the  aflaifin  ;  a  ready  fervant  to  obey  her  high 
commands,  not  a  bully  to  infult  them  j  a  champion  to  defend  his 
neighbour's  rights,  not  a  tyrant  to  trample  them  under  foot. — 
Tranfpo_rted  by  a  fudden  paffion,  to  which  all  are  liable,  he  of- 
fended Mr.  Payne,  who  refented  it  much  too  roughly,  by  knock- 
ing himidewn  on  the  fpot.  WASHINGTON  had  it  in  his  power  to 
have  taken  ample  revenge  ;  and  cowards,  who  have  no  command 
over  their  paffions,  would  have  done  it ;  but  duty  forbade  him, 
and  he  had  the  courage  to  obey.  Reafon  whifpered  the  folly  of 
harbouring  black  paHlons  in  his  foul,  poifoning  his  peace  ;  he  in- 
ftantly  baniihed  them  and  went  to  a  ball,  to  drink  fweet  ftreams 
of  friendfhip  from  the  eyes  of  happy  friends.  Again,  reafon 
whifpered  him  that  having  been  the  aggrefTor,  he  ought  to  afk 
Mr.  Payne's  pardan,  and  make  friends  with  him.  In  this  alfo  he 
had  the  courage  to  obey  her  facred  voice. 

In  what  hiilory  ancient  or  modern,  facred  or  profane,  can  you 
find  in  fo  young  a  man,  only  22,,  fuch  an  inftance  of  that  TRUE 
HEROIC  VALCII  which  combats  malignant  paffions,  conquers  un- 
reafonable  self^  reje6ts  the  hell  of  hatred,  and  invites  the  heaven 
oilove  into  our  own  bofoms,  and  into  thofe  of  our  brethern  with 
whom  we  may  have  had  a  falling  out  -,  Jofeph  forgiving  his  breth- 
ren in  the  land  of  Egypt ;  David  fparing  that  inveterate  feeker  of 
his  life,  Saul ;  Sir  Walter  Rawleigh  pardoning  the  young  man 
who  fpat  in  his  face*;  afford,  it  is  true,  charming  fpecimens  of 
the  sublime  and  beautiful  in  acli©n,  and  certainly  fuch  men  are 
the  worthies  of  the  world  and  brighteft  ornaments  of  human  na- 
ture. But  yet  none  *f  them  have  gone  beyond  WASHINGTON,  in 
the  affair  of  Payne. 

A  few  years  after  this,  Payne  .had  a  caufe  tried  in  Fairfax 
Court,  and  WASHINGTON  happened  on  that  day  to  be  in  the 
houfe.  The  lawyer  on  the  other  fide,  finding  he  was  going  fail 
to  leeward,  thought  he  wouid  luff  up  with  a  whole  broadiide  at 
Payne's  character  ;  and  a,fter  raking  him  fore  and  aft  with  abufe, 
he  artfully  bore  away  under  the  lee  of  the  jury's  prejudices  which 
he  endeavored  to  inflame  againft  him.  "  Yes,  pleafe  your  wor- 
fliips,  continued  he,  as  a  proof  that  this  Mr.  Payne  is  a  mofl  tur- 
bulent fellow,  and  capable  of  all  I  tell  you,  be  pleafed  to  remem- 
ber, Gentlemen  of  the  Jury,  that  this  is  the  very  man,  who  fome 
time  ago  treated  our  beloved  Col.  WASHINGTON  fo  barbaroufly. 
Yes,  this  is  the  wretch  who  dared  in  this  very  Court-Houfe-yarc^ 
to  lift  up  his  impious  hand  againft  that  greateft  and  beft  of  men, 

and 


C     55     ) 

and  knocked  him  down  as  though  he  had  been  but  a  bullock  of 
the  Stalls." 

This  roared  out  in  a  thundering  tone,  and  with  a  tremendous 
flamp  on  the  floor,  made  Payne  look  very  wild,  for  he  Taw  the 
countenances  of  the  court  beginning  to  blacken  on  him.  But 
WASHINGTON  arofe  immediately  and  adclreiled  the  Bench — 

"  As  to  Mr.  Payne's  character,  may  it  pleafe  your  worfhips, 
"  faid  he,  we  all  have  the  fatisfa£lion  to  know  that  it  is  perfecl- 
"  ly  unexceptionable  :  and  with  refpedt  to  the  little  difference 
"  which  formerly  happened  between  that  gentleman  and  myfelf, 
u  it  was  inftantly  made  up,  and  we  have  lived  on  the  bed  terms 
"  ever  fince  ;  and  befides,  I  could  wifli  all  my  acquaintance  to 
u  know,  that'I  entirely  acquit  Mr.  Payne  of  blame  in  that  affair, 
et  and  take  it  all  on  myfelf  as  the  aggreffor." 

Mr.  Payne  ufed  often  to  relate  another  anecdote  of  WASH- 
INGTON, which  reflects  equal  honor  on  the  goodnefs  of  his  heart. 

"  Immediately  after  the  war,  faid  he,  when  the  conquering 
hero  was  returned  in  peace  to  his  home,  with  the  laurels  of  vi£lo- 
ry  green  and  flourifhing  en  his  head  ;  I  felt  a  great  defire  to  fee 
him,  and  fo  fet  out  for  Mount  Vernon.  As  I  drew  near  the 
houfe,  I  began  to  experience  a  rifing  fear  left  he  iliould  call  to 
mind  the  blow  I  had  given  him  in  former  days.  However,  ani- 
mating myfelf,  I  pufhed  on.  WASHINGTON  met  me  at  the  door 
with  a  fmiling  welcome,  and  prefently  led  me  into  an  adjoining 
room  where  Mrs.  WASHINGTON  fat.  "  Here,  my  dear,  faid  he, 
41  presenting  me  to  his  lady,  here  is  the  little  man  you  have  fo 
44  often  heard  me  talk  of,  and  who,  on  a  difference  between  us  one 
"  day,  had  the  refolution  to  knock  me  down,  big  as  I  am.  I 
""  know  you  will  honor  him  as  he  deferves,  for  I  affure  you  he  has 
"  the  heart  of  a  true  Virginian." — He  laid  this,  continued  Mr. 
Payne,  with  an  air  which  convinced  me  that  his  long  familiarity 
with  war,  had  not  robbed  him  of  a  fingle  fpark  of  the  goodnefs 
and  noblenefs  of  his  heart.  And  Mrs.  WASHINGTON  looked  at 
him,  I  thought,  with  fomething  in  her  eyes  which  {hewed  that 
he  appeared  to  her  greater  and  lovelier  than  ever. 

"  A  good  tree,  faith  the   divine  teacher,   bringetb  forth  good 
fruit"     No   wonder  then  that  we  meet  with  fo  many  and  fuch 
delicious  fruits  of  CHARITY  in  WASHINGTON,  whofe  foul  was  fo 
rich  in  benevolence. 

In  confequence  of  his  wealth  and  large  landed  poffeffions,  he 
had  vifits  innumerable  from  the  poor.  Knowing  the  great  value 
of  time  and  of  good  tempers  to  them,  he  could  not  bare  that 
they  fliould  lofe  thefe  by  long  waiting,  and  fhuffling,  and  blow- 
ing tjheir  fingers  at  his  door.  He  had  a  room  fst  apart  for  the 


(     56    ) 

reception  of  fuch  poor  perfons  as  had  bufmefs  with  him,  and  the 
porter  had  orders  to  conduct  them  into  it,  and  to  let  him  know 
it  immediately  ;  and  fo  affectionately  attentive  was  he  to  them, 
that,  if  he  was  in  company  with  the  greateft  characters  on  the 
continent  when  his  fervant  informed  him  that  a  poor  man  wiftied 
to  fpeak  to  him,  h«  would  inftantly  beg  them  to  excufe  him  for 
a  moment,  and  go  and  wait  on  him. 

WASHINGTON'S  conduct  fhewed  that  he  difliked  another  prac- 
tice too  common  among  fome  great  men,  who,  not  having  the  pow- 
er to  fay  yes,  nor  the  heart  to  fay  no,  to  a  poor  man,  are  fain  to 
put  him  off  with  a  u  come  again,  came  again"  and  thus  trot  him 
backwards  and  forwards,  wafting  his  time,  wearing  out  his  pa- 
tience and  fhoes,  and  after  all  give  him  the  mortification  of  a 
difappointment. 

WASHINGTON  could  not  away  with  fuch  CRUEL  KINDNESS.  If 
he  could  not  oblige  a  poor  applicant  he  would  candidly  tell  him 
fo  at  once ;  but  then  the  goodnefs  of  his  heart  painted  his  regret 
fo  fenfibly  on  his  countenance,  that  even  his  refufals  made  him 
friends. 

A  poor  Irrfhman,  wanting  a  little  farm,  and  hearing  that  A¥ASH- 
I-NGTON  had  fuch  an  one  to  rent,  waited  on  him.  WASHINGTON 
told  him  that  he  was  fincerely  foiry  that  he  could  not  afiilt  him, 
for  he  had  juft  difpofed  of  it.  The  poor  man  took  his  leave, 
but  not  without  returning  him  a  thoufand  thanks  !  Ab  I  do  you 
ibank  me  so  beartily  for  a  refusal?  "  Yes,  upon  my  flioul,  now 
ple*afe  your  Excellency's  honor,  and  I  do  thank  you  a  thoufand 
times.  For  many  a  great  man  would  have  kept  me  waiting  like 
a  black  Negro  ;  but  your  Excellency's  honor  has  told  me  ftrait 
oft  hand  that  you  are  forry,  and  God  blefs  you  for  it,  that  you 
can't  help  me,  and  fo  your  honor  has  done  my  bulinefs  for  me  in 
no  time  and  lefs. 

The  Potomac  abounds  with  the  fineft  Herrings  in  the  world, 
which,  when  faked,  furnifti  not  only  to  the  wealthy  a  charming 
reiifh  for  thair  tea  and  coffee,  but  alfo  to  the  poor  a  delicious  fub- 
ftitute  for  Bacon.  But  fond  as  they  are  of  this  small  bonedbacon^ 
as  they  funnily  call  it,  many  of  them  have  not  the  means  to  pro- 
cure it.  WASHINGTON'S  heart  felt  for  thefe  poor  people,  and 
provided  a  remedy.  He  ordered  a  feine  and  a  batteau  to  be  kept 
on  one  of  his  beft  fiftiing  fliores  on  purpofe  for  the  poor.  If  the 
batteau  was  loll  or  the  feine  fpoilt,  which  was  often  the  cafe,  he 
would  have  them  replaced  with  new  ones  immediately.  And  if 
the  poor  who  came  for  filh,  were  at  any  time  too  weak-handed  to 
haai  the  feine  themfelves,  they  needed  but  to  apply  to  the  overfeer, 
vr.ho  had  orders  from  WASHINGTON,  to  fend  handf  to  help  them.. 

Thus . 


Thus,  all  the  poor  of  his  large  neighbourhood  had  it  in  their 
power  to  come  down  in  the  feafon,  and  catch  an  abundance  of  the 
fineft  fifti  for  themfelves  and  their  families.  In  what  iilver  floods 
'were  ever  yet  caught  the  herrings,  which  could  have  given  to 
WASHINGTON  what  he  tailed,  on  feeing  the  poor,  driving  away 
from  his  fhores  with  carts  laden  with  delicious  fifli,  and  carrying 
home,  whooping  and  finging,  to  their  {railing  wives  and  children^ 
the  rich  prize,  a  whole  year's  joy  and  plenty  I 

In  all  his  charities,  he  difcovered  great  judgment  and  care  in 
fele6ling  proper  objects.  Character  was  the  main  chance.  Mount 
Vernon  had  no  charms  for  lazy,  drunken,  worthlefs  beggars. 
Such  knew  very  well  that  they  muft  carry  their  pigs  (their  vices) 
to  another  market.  He  never  failed  to  remind  them  of  the  great 
crime  of  robbing  the  public  of  their  fervices,  and  alfo  the  exceed- 
ing cruelty  and  injuftice  of  mapping  up  from  .the  really  indigent, 
what  little  charity  bread  there  was  flirring.  But  if  the  character 
was  good;  if  the  poor  petitioner  was  a  fober,  honeft  and  induftri- 
ous  perfon  whom  Providence  hadby.ficknefs  or  loffes,  reduced  to  • 
want,  he  found  a  brother  in,  WASHINGTON.  It  is  incredible 
what  quantities  of  wool,  corn,bacpn,  flour,  clothes.  Sic.  &c.  were 
annually  diftributed  to  the  poor  from  that  ai.noft  exhauftlefs  heap, 
which  the  bleilings  of  heaven  had  heaped  on  this  its  fo  industriout 
and  faithful  fteward. 

"  I  had  orders,  faicl  Mr.  Peake,  a"  fenfible,  honeft  manager  of 
one  of  WASHINGTON'S  plantations,  to  fill  a  corn  houfe  every 
year  for  the  fole  ufe  of  the  poor  in  my  neighbourhood!  to  whom 
it  was  a  moft  feafonable  and  precious  relief ;  faving  numbers  of 
poor  women  and  children  from  miferable  famine,  and  blefling 
themwitn  a  chearful  plenteoufnefs  of  bread." 

Mr.  Lund  Waftiington,  long  a  manager  of  his  Mount  VernoiV 
eftatc,  had  fimilar  orders.  In  one  year  when  corn  was  fo  dear 
(a  dollar  per  bufliel)  that  numbers  of  the  poor  were  on  the  point 
of  ftarving,  Mr.  L.  Wellington,  by  order  of  the  General,  not  on- 
ly gave  away  all  that  could  be  fpared  from  the  granaries,  but 
bought  at  that  dear  rate  several  hundred  bushels,  for  them  1 

But  it  were  an  endlefs  talk  to  enumerate  all  the  thoufand,  th'ou- 
fand  fweet  and  feafonable  charities  of  this  good  angel  to  the  poor. 
The  wondering  ftranger  beheld  them  in  the  fliining  eyes  and  de- 
vouring looks  of  ALL,  wherever  he  went. 

When  the  young  men  faw  him  they  flocked  to  the  door,  and 
the  aged  arofe  and  flood  up. 

The  great  men  refrained  from  talking  in  his  prefence,  and  the 
hearts  of  the  little  ones  leaped  for  joy. 

.    Becaufe  he  fed  the  poor  that  cried  unto  him,  and  his  garment 
covered  the  naked. 

H  H; 


(     55     ) 

He  was  a  father  of  the  fatherlefs,  and   flood  up  mightily  for 
him  that  had  none  to  help  him. 

The  bleiling  of  him  that  was  ready  to  perifh  came  upon  him, 
and  he  caufed  the  heart  of  the  widow  to  fing  for  joy. 

Bleffed  be  thy  foul,  O  WASHINGTON,  child  of  generous  love  !' 
Thou  waft  as  the  black  ftorm  of  winter  to  the  foes  of  thy  country  ; 
but  to  the  children  of  the  poor,  like  the  foft  cloud  of  fummer  that 
droppeth  down  marrow  and  fatnefs  !  Thou  haft  ceafed  among  men 
and  the  tears  of  millions  have  flowed;  but  thou  art  with  HIM 
who  is  MIGHTY  to  REWARD.  For  the  bread  which  thou  gaveft 
to  thy  poor  brethern,  thou  art  now  fed  with  pureft  manna,  and 
honey  from  the  rocks  of  heaven,  even  Angels  food.  And  for  the 
cloth  with  which  thou  didft  cover  their  nakednefs,  thy  covering 
now  is  from  the  looms  of  Paraclife,  even  robes  of  floating  gold. — 
Bright  fun  beam  of  goodnefs,  thou  haft  ceafed  among  men,  but 
thy  ihining  is  with  him  who  is  mighty  to  reward! 

But  though  fo  kind  to  the  bodies,  WASHINGTON  was  ftill  more 
kind  and  coltly  in  his  charities  to  the  minds  of  the  poor.  Senfible 
that  a  republican  government,  that  is,  a  government  of  the  peo- 
ple, can  never  long  fublift  where  the  minds  of  the  people  are  not 
enlightened;  he  earneftly  recommended  it  to  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  to  promote,  as  an  object  of  primary  importance, 
inflitutions  for  the  general  diffufion  of  knowledge.  In  this,  as 
indeed  in  all  other  cafes,  where  any  thing  great  or  good  was  to 
be  done,  WASHINGTON  led  the  way. 

lie  eiiablifhecl  a  Charity-School  in  Alexandria,  and  endowed  it 
Vv'ith  a  donation  otfour  thousand  dollars  !  The  intereft  was  regu- 
larly paid  and  expended  on  the  education  of  fifteen  boys.  In  1785 
the  Affembly  of  his  native  ftate,  Virginia,  defirous  "  to  embrace 
as  they  faid,  .every  fuitable  occafion  of  teftifying  their  fenfe  of 
the  unexampled  merits  of  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  Esq_.  towards 
his  country,  prefented  him  with  fifty  fhares  in  the  Potomac,  and 
one  hundred  fhares  in  the  James  River  Navigation  Company  ;  ma- 
king in  the  whole,  not  lefs  than  the  enormous  fum  of  fifteen 
thoufand  pounds  fteiTmg  1 

Of  this  public  a6l,  they  requefted  the  Governor  to  tranfmit 
WASHINGTON  a  copy.  In  anfwer  to  which  he  addreffed  a  very 
elegant  letter  to  the  Governor,  "  in  which  I  take  the  liberty" 
lays  he  "  of  returning  to  the  General  Affembly,  through  your 
4*  hands,  the  profound  and  grateful  acknowledgements,  infpired 
"  by  fo  lignal  a  mark  of  their  benificent  intentions  towards  me." 
He  goes  on  to  beg  that  they  would  be  fo  good  as  to  excufe  his 
determined  refolution  not  to  accept  a  farthing  of  it  for  his  own 
use.  u  But,"  continued  he,  "  if  it  fhould  pleafe  the  General  Af- 
fci  femblv  to  permit  me  to  turn  the  deftirution  of  the  fund  vefted 

"  in 


(    59    ) 

**  in  me,  from  my  private  emolument,  to  objects  of  a  public  na- 
"  ture,  it  (hall  be  my  ftudyin  fele6ting,  to  prove  the  iincerity  of 
u  my  gratitude  for  the  honor  confered  on  me,  by  prefering  fuch 
"  as  may  appear  molt  fubfervient  to  the  enlightened  and  patriotic 
"  views  of  the  Legislature." 

They  were  very  cheerfully  fubmitted  to  his  difpofal  ;  and,  ac- 
cording to  promife,  he  appropriated  them  to  works  of  the  great- 
eft  public  utility;  viz.  His  (hares  in  the  James  river  canal,  to  a 
College  in  Rockbridge  county,  near  the  waters  of  James  River, 
and  his  Potomack  fliares  to  a  national  Univerfity  to  be  erected  in 
the  Federal  di6tri6t,  on  the  Great  Potomack. 

How  immortal  were  his  willies  for  the  good  of  his  country  !  As 
if  incapable  of  being  fatisfied  with  all  that  he  had  done  for  her 
while  living,  he  endeavoured  by  founding  thofe  noble  inftitutions 
for  the  diffufion  of  knowledge  and  virtue,  to  make  himfelf  her  be- 
nefactor when  he  could  live  no  more.  Charming  evidence,  that, 
like  Cato,  he  tailed  no  happinefs  equal  to  that  of  making  others 
happy. 

Since  the  idea  is  perfectly  correct,  that  the  great  Governor  of 
the  world  muft  look,  with  peculiar  dignity  and  benediction,  on 
thofe  of  his  children,  who  have  moft  diftinguifhed  themfelves  by 
their  dutifulnefs  ;  may  we  not  indulge  the  pleafing  hope  that 
thefe  Colleges,  founded  by  such  a  band,  fhall  prove  the  nurfe- 
ries  of  brighteft  genius  and  virtue,  and  that  from  their  facred  halls 
will  walk  forth  in  endlefs  fucceflion,  the  mighty  WASHINGTON^, 
and  ADAMSES,  the  FRANKLINS  and  LEES,  the  JEFFERSONS  and 
MADISJONS,  &c.  &c.  of  future  times  !  O  that  Columbia  may  live 
before  God !  and  that  the  bright  days  of  her  peace  andprofperity 
may  never  have  an  end  I 

WASHINGTON'S  JUSTICE. 

But  of  all  the  virtues  that  flied  fuch  dignity  and  grace  on  the 
character  of  WASHINGTON,  there  was  none  fo  venerable  and  ma- 
jeftic  as  his  Juftice,  or  Honefty.  This  from  his  youth,  he  feems 
to  have  revered,  as  the  precious  pillar  that  fupports  the  fair  fa- 
bric of  all  focial  order  and  happinefs. 

The  Marquis  de  Chaftelleux  obferves,  that  WASHINGTON'S  re- 
putation for  incorruptible  juftice,  ftood  fo  high,  even  while  a 
young  man,  that  all  the  neighbouring  gentlemen,  if  they  could 
but  get  him  as  an  executor  to  their  wills,  clofed  their  eyes  in 
peace  ;  from  a  fweetly  fatisfying  fenfe,  that  juftice  would  be  done 
to  the  families  they  left  behind  them,  at  his  care. 

Being  aiked  which  he  thought  the  greateft  man,  Ariftides  the 
juft,  or,  Caefar  the  generous  j  Ob  !  Aristides  a  thousand  times  ! 

replied 


(     60     ) 

replied  he,  with  eyes  fparkling  with  admiration  and  love  of  that 
great  man,  u  Had  every  body  been  as  juft  as  Ariftides,  there 
"  ^v.ould  have  been  no  Gsefar.  The  one  was  more  than  a  man, 
u  the  other  worfe  than  a  beaft  of  prey."  With  fuch  exalted  fen- 
timents  of juftice,  no  wonder  that  the  firm-toned  WASHINGTON 
ftood  through  life  io  immoveably  by  her  facred  ftandard:  So  im- 
moveably,  we  truft,  will  our  Captains  of  men  of  war  (land  by  the 
four  and  twenty  pounders  of  their  country,  with  duty  and  her 
iixteen  ftripes  waving  over  their  heads. 

The  great  Turenne  is  defervedly  celebrated  by  his  countrymen 
the  French,  for  his  delicate  fenfe  of  juftice.  The  magiftrates  of 
a  large  diftri£t,  dreading  the  march  oi'his  numerous  army  through 
their  fields,  vineyards,  &c.  waited  on  him  and  offered  a  bag  of 
one  hundred  thousand  crowns,  if  he  would  take  another  rout. 
He  refufed  their  money.  Seeing  them  greatly  diftreffed  he  haf- 
tened  to  relieve  them.  "  Gentlemen,  faid  he,  I  did  not.  Intend 
to  march  through  your  country;  juftice  therefore  will  not  allow 
me  to  pocket  your  money  for  not  doing  what  I  really  did  not  in- 
tend to  do."  Glorious  Turenne  !  Equally  Glorious  WASHING- 
TON !  For  when  offered  by  his  native  ftate  the  enormous  fum  of 
feventy  thoufand  dollars  1  he  refufed  it  all,  becaufe  he  had  for- 
merly made  fomething  like  a  promife  that  he  would  never  take 
pay  for  any  fervices  done  to  his  mother  country.  "  To  this  pro- 
mif«,  fays  he,  I  have  invariably  adhered — and  from  this  promife 
if  I  had  the  inclination,  I  do  not  confider  myfelf  at  liberty  to 
depart*." 

It  was  partly  on  account  of  his  veneration  for  Juftice,  that  he 
always  held  {landererfc  and  {lander  in  fuch-  utter  abhorrence. — 
4<  Vile  praclice"  faid  he,  u  Vile  offspring  6f  injuftice,  cowardice 
"  and  fpleen."  For  the  fame  reafon,  he  was,  through  life,  the 
declared  enemy  of  gambling.  There  are  perfqns,  now  living, 
who  have  often  heard  him  fay  that  he  looked  on  the  practice  of 
fitting  down  toplay,with  the  wifli  to  get  a  man's  money  from  him, 
as 'having  fomething  in  it  fo  mean,  selfish  and  dishonest^  that  it 
was  to  him  inconceivable  how  a  gentleman  could  ever  reconcile 
it  to  his  feelings !  "  To  give  an  equivalent  for  what  we  receive, 
"  faid  he,  is  the  ground  of  ail  dealing  amongft  honeft  men  ;  but  to 
"  take  a  fum  of  money  from  a  man,  (and  what  is  ftill  worfe,  from 
"  his  wife  and  children)  and  give  him  nothing  in  return  but  heart- 
aches, 

*  That  famous  Britim  minifter,  fir  Robert  Walpole,  ufed  to.  fay, 
in  open  day,  that  there  was  no  man  fo  honeft  but  he  might  be  bought, 
if  you  would  but  bid  boldly  up  to  his  price  !  How  would  he  have 
dropped  his  beef-fteak  if  he  had  heanUhis  anecdote  of  WASHINGTON  • 


"  aches,  bitter  reflections,  family  quarrels  and  wretchednefs,  is 
"  utterly  incompatible  with  common  honesty,  not  to  fay  humani- 
ty ."  Imprefled  with  thefe  fentiments,  WASHINGTON  fhun-ned  a 
gaming  table,  as  he  would  have  munned  a  pillory  ;  and  knit  his 
awful  brow  as  fternly  at  a  Gambler  as  at  a  Cut-purfe.  And  yet 
for  complaifance  fake,  or  to  amufe  his  friends  on  a  winter's  even- 
ing, he  had  no  objection  to  a  hand  at  whiil :  but  he  always  play- 
ed for  pleafure,  not  for  pence  ;  to  divert  his  friends,  not  to  ftrip 
them. — So  that  all  the  choice  dinners  and  fuppers  which  his 
friends  got  at  his  table,  (and  no  man  in  America,  perhaps  none 
in  the  world  gave  fo  many)  were  all  clear  gain  to  them.  WASH- 
INGTON would  have  die4  a  thoufand  deaths,  rather  than  have  al- 
lowed the  flighteft  ground  for  fuck  vile  dirt  to  be  thrown  on  him 
as  Qiiin  the  Player  daubed  on  a  Nobleman  with  whom  he  had 
flipped.  Bolting  out  after  fupper  along  the  fplendid  paflage,  lin- 
ed with  fervants,  each  looking  for  a  fee,  Quin  cried  out,'*  Give 
me  the  way,  gentlemen,  and  fpare  me  to-night,  for  'pon  honor, 
I'm  as  naked  as  a  bird :  your  mafter  gave  me  a  good  fupper,  and 
he  has  taken  my  purfe  to.pay  tfie  reckoning." 

It  was  this  delicate  fenfe  of  honor  that  fct  WASHINGTON  fo 
point  blank  againfl  making  purchafes,  when  he  had  not  a  dead 
certainty  of  paying  at  the  lime  due.  He  faid,  that,  he  would  ra- 
ther take  a  turn  on  the  rack,  than  be  fitting  momently  expecting 
to  fee  the  face  of  a  creditor,  when  he  had  no  money  to  give  him. 
A  gentleman  affured  me,  that  he  once  heard  him  fay,  that,  "  He 
<c  thought  a  man  who  owed  money  to  a  great  many  people,  was 
u  in  almoit  as  bad  a  condition  as  the  man  in  the  gofpel  who  was 
"  poffeffed  with  a  legion  of  devils."  Meaning,  I  fappofe,  that 
when  one  flipped  out,  a  hundred  whipped  in,  to  torment  him. 
Sometimes  they  had  him  in  the  fire,  fometimes  in  the  water,  and 
if  he  ran  through  dry  places,  seeking  rest,  be  found  none.  Tbsy 
gave  him  no  rest,  fays  the  parable,  until  they  bad  run  bim  plump 
into  the  tombs  !  Merciful  God!  how  cruelly  does  man  invert  thy 
kind  intentions.  Thou  madsft  him  to  fing'  along  the  flowery 
paths  of  honor,  free  and  happy  as  the  birds  of  heaven,  but  pride 
and  folly,  true  hawks  of  hell,  foon  fpoil  all  his  melodious  notes  ! 
•  That  great  philofopher,  Socrates,  flipped  one  day  into  a  large 
{lore,  fomething,  I  fuppofe,  like  what  the  New  Englanders  call  a 
Variety  Store  ;  after  looking,  for  fome.time,  over  the  vaft  varie- 
ty of  curiofities  which  pride  and  folly  had  flruck  out,  fuch  as 
gold-laced  jackets,  diamond  necklaces,  full  bottomed  perrir/igs 
and  I  know  not  what,  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  exclaimed,  O! 
Jupiter  .'  what  a  world  of  trumpery  is  here  that  I  bave  no  use  for!! 
Socrates  was  a  heathen.  But  what  numbers  of  us  Chriftians  mult 
have  every  gim-crack  article  that  Socrates  defpifed,  aj*$f  and  a 


great  many  more,  or  we  can't  be  happy.  We  muft  have  gold 
watches,  and  Turkey  carpets,  and  gilt  chariots,  and  fo  on,  and 
fo  on :  and,  (worse  than  the  Indian  who  gives  a  fat  bullock  for  a 
two-penny  firing  of  beads)  we  are  ready,  for- this  trumpery,  to 
give  not  only  our  fat  bullocks,  but  even  our  wives  and  children 
to  abufe  and  curfes,  and  to  coop  ourfelves  up  in  prison  bounds,  to 
lead  the  lives  of  criminals,  fearing  every  body,  pitied  by  none, 
damned  by  many,  and  defpifed  by  all. 

It  was  a  frequent  faying  of  WASHINGTON,  that,  "  to  dive  deep 
into  a  merchant's  Ledger,  was  a  fure  fign  of  a  failing  fortune,  or 
a  callous  confcience."  For  this  reafon  his  life  was  a  pra6lical 
comment  on  that  wholefome  old  proverb,  u  Cut  your  coat  accord- 
ing to  your  clotb"  Hence,  like  the  famous  Pilot  boats  of  his  na- 
tive ftate,  he  always  failed  nearer  the  wind,  than  did  his  income, 
be  that  as  fcanty  as  it  would.  I  have  been  told  by  his  old  friend 
and  paftor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lee  Maffey,  who,  (if  wit  and  worth 
could  have  given  biftioprics,  would  have  had  a  mitre  long  ago; 
that  while  WASHINGTON  received  no  more  than  the  falary  of  a 
county  furveyor,  he  always  had  a  dollar  at  the  fervice  of  a  friend: 
and  never  fuffered  a  creditor  to  tip  him  the  wink,  and  take  him 
afide  to  fliove  an  account  into  his  fift.  And  when  by  the  genero- 
fity  of  his  brother,  he  inherited  the  Mount  Vernon  eftate,  and  by 
the  far  greater  generofity  of  the  young  Mrs.  Martha  Cuftis,  he 
was  made  one  of  the  wealthieft  men  in  America,  he  continued 
the  fame,  independent  and  good.  He  walked  with  justice,  and 
juftice  is  one  of  the  mighty  pillars  that  fupport  the  thione  of 
him  who  is  the  fame  yefterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever. 

WASHINGTON  ufed  often  to  fay,  that,  "  to  be  just,  a  man  muft 
u  fometimes  ceafe  to  be  generous.  Generous  minds  have  been 
"  known,  efpecially  when  young,  to  gratify  their  benevolence  e- 
"  ven  at  the  expence  of  their  honefty.  The  reafon  is,  acts  of 
"  Generofity  give  great  pleafure  to  ourfelves  ;  they  attra6t  onus 
u  the  admiration  and  love  of  others  ;  and  every  fermon  we  hear, 
"  every  novel  we  read,  dwells  on  the  praifes  of  charity.  But 
a  let  no  honest  youth  defpair,  becaufe  he  is  not  able  to  be  gene- 
*'  rous.  Let  him  reflect  that  we  are  under  greater  obligations  to 
tc  the  one  than  to  the  other.  Society  may  fubfift  without  Gene- 
"  rofity,  but  not  without  Juftice  1" 

It  was  on  this  account  that  WASHINGTON  could  never  bear  a 
character  fo  hypocritical  as  his  who  makes  rich  presents,  keeps 
open  houfe,  and  makes  his  Guefts  drunk  with  old  Madeira ;  and  yet 
canfhake  hands  familiarly  with  a  creditor  of  ten  years  standing!!! 

From  the  fame  divine  principal  (tbe  love  of  justice  J  Wafhing- 
.ton  though  the  mob  benevolent  of  men,  was  the  moft  rigid  of  eco- 

nomifls* 


(    63     ) 

ftomifts.  "  We  should  all,  fays  he,  calculate  on  great  and  continu- 
al expense.  We  *re  liable  to  sickness — we  may  be  involved  in  law 
suits-*— new  taxes  may  be  laid — the  price  of  previsions  may  rise — 
servants  may  sicken — and  our  bouses  may  burn.  Our,  debtors, 
though  honest,  may  be  in  straits — our  tenants  may  be  unfortunate 
— our  friends  may  come  to  want,  and  our  neighbours  may  ask  our 
help.  There  is  a  luxury  in  doing  good,  for  which  a  wise  man 
would  chearfully  difpenfe  with  a  little  superfluous  eating  and 
show.  And  besides,  by  living  frugally,  we  shall  seldom  know  the 
heart  ache  of  borrowing,  or  the  insolence  of  creditors. 

From  the  fame  profound  veneration  for  juflice,  Washington 
was  always  eminent  for  the  punctuality  of  his  promifes  and  pay- 
ments. Never  man  more  clearly  difcerned  its  clofe  connection 
with  dignified  character t  or  its  importance  to  thofe  with  whom 
we  deal,  efpecially  if  they  be  poor.  'Tis  pity,  faid  he,  that  the 
rich  do  not  more  generally  reflect  on  the  disadvantages  which  the 
poor  labour  under  in  getting  their  money.  Tho*  much  wronged, 
they  are  afraid  to  go  to  law  with  one  mightier  than  themselves. 
Law  is  slow,  and  though  not  always  sure,  is  always  costly.  A 
poor  tradesman  may  have  his  credit  and  his  bread  at  stake, and  yet 
be  afraid  to  offend  his  wealthy  customer.  And  thus  between  the 
dread  of  losing  that  customer,  on  the  one  hand  /  and  the  rage  un- 
der ill  treatment  from  him,  on  the  other  band,  he  may  be  mucb 
more  miserable  than  any  good  man  can  wish  to  see  his  brother. 

His  admiration  of  that  golden  precept,  "  Owe  no  man  any 
thing,"  early  led  Washington  to  combat  false  shame,  that  weak- 
nefs,  which  under  the  fpecious  mafk  of  Good  Nature,  and  Delica- 
cy, keeps  many  a  young  man  from  as&ing  for  his  own  !  Paying 
others  with  great  punctuality,  he  expected  that  they  fhould  be 
equally  punctual :  And  looked  on  him  as  but  ill  entitled  to  the 
character  of  a  good  man,  who  puts  you  to  the  pain  of  afking  for 
your  money,  and  lefs  of  an  honest  man,  who  fuflers  you  to  want 
it,  when  he  could  eafily  procure  it  for  you.  Unleis  the  debtor 
was  a  poor  man,  Wafhington  never  loft  a  debt  for  want  of  de- 
manding it,  and  that  pretty  early  and  earnestly  too. 

It  was  a  remark  of  Waihington,  that,  he  who  would  enjoy,  undif- 
turbed,  the  pleafures  of  honesty,  mult  learn,  fometimes  at  leaft,  to. 
fay  No,  even  to  his  deareft  friends.  Few  are  the  pleafures  equal  to 
thofe  of  meeting  the  requefts  of  a  beloved  wife,  or  child.  But  if 
they  aJk  for  drefs,  or,  for  amufements,  above  your  income,  it  is 
duty,  it  is  kindness,  even^to  them,  to  refufe.  If  it  coft  a  struggle  ; 
let  it  be  remembered,  that  it  is  the  ftruggle  of  virtue  ;  and  they 
ihemfelves,  fooner  or  later,  will  revere  ^nd  commend  you  for  it. 

But 


(    64    ) 

But  if  you  indulge,  you  contrail  the  pangs  of  guilt,  and  your  weak, 
indulgence  will  be  requited  with  reproach.  Perhaps  an  evil,  ftill, 
worfe,  enfues  ;  the  virtue  of.  the. family  is  fhaken.  When  the- 
hufband  and  the  father  yields  to  guilt,  it  is  difficult  for  the  wife 
and  children  to  retain  their  integrity.  Plans  of  fraud  ate  too 
often,  unanimoufly  adopted,  whereby  they  live  in  (loth  on  money, 
with  which  debts,  fhould  be  paid.  .  . 

Of  all  men,  Wamington  was  the  m.oft.  corre6\  and  regular  in  his- 
bufmefs  and  dealings. :^"The  richeft  fruits  of  induftry,"  faid  he, 
"  may  eanly  be  loft,  by  confufi.on.  ,  To^fmifh.  one.  piece  of  bufmefs. 
"  before. you  begin  another — to  pvt.. every  thing  in  its  proper 
4C  place, —  to  give  and  take  fhort  memorandums  of  your  bargains^- 
"  what  you  are  to  perform,  and  what  to  expect— to  keep  receipts 
"  and  vouchers  of  every  thing  you,  pay— -t.o  enter  carefully  your 
"  expenses  and  incomes— irxd  .to  p oft*  all  the fe  fo  correctly,  that- 
<l  by  a  fmgle  glance  you  may  tell  the.  true  ftate  of  your  affairs  ; 
*c  and  never  fuffer  the.  vexation  of  .being  called  on  by  a  credit.or, 
"  when  you  are  not  prepared  to  fend  him  away  with  a  .light  heart.' 
u  Thefe  are,  what  fome  have  been  pleafed  to  call,  frnall  matters, 
"  but  they  are  fucli  fmall  matters  as  will  yield  you  a  great  deal 
"  of  fafety  and  comfort,,  fa v.e  you  much  time,  and,  trouble  in  the 
"  courfe  of  life,  fnatch  you  from  many  a  difpute  and  law-fuit, 
cc  and  preferve  perhaps  your  purfe  from  .a  fecond  payment  of  the 
4t  fame  money,  and  your  character,  from  .ill  natured  fufpicion. 
"  It  is  a  fad  thing  to  fee  a  young  man,*jfuddenly  called  on  for  a 
41  valuable  paper,  at  his  wits  end  to  know  where  he  has  laid  it^ 
u  turning  the  houfe  upfide  down,  and,  after  all,  unable  to  rind  it, 
"  obliged  to  lit  down  in  a  high  fever  of  rage  and  difappoint- 
"  ment." 

And  yet  this  may  be  a  great  fcholar,  and  can  tell  you  in 
Latin,  Greek,  or  French,  the  name  of  every  four-footed 
beaft,  and  creeping  thing,  that  boarded  with  Noah  in.  the  ark  1 
Thus  prepofteroully,  in  the  education  of  his  ion,  does  a 
father  facrifice  more  to  found  than  to  fenfe,  to  pride  than 
to  prudence  ;  and  had  rather  hear  him  challenge  his 
company  with  a  frnart  Pariez  'sous  Francois^  than  teach  him 

*  He  was  taken  ill  on  Friday.  .  An  intimate  friend  alked  him  if  he 
wiftied  to  have  any  thingdone  on  the  arrangeaient  of  his  temporal  af- 
fairs; he  fiiook  his  head  and  replied,  <(  no,  1  thank  you,  cor  my  books 
nre  all  ported  to  Toei'day  !"  That  indafcr/  :.-.iid  method  mutt  be  truly 
aftoni filing,  which  in  the  management  ef  poiTefliuns  fo  vult  and  com- 
plicated as  his,  kept  every  thing,  fo  harmonuniu"  adjnited,  that  when 
he  was  called  on  at  a  ftiort  notice,  to  leave  the  world,  he  had  not  at 
wifh  to  alter  a  tittle. 


(         65         ) 

like  Wamington,  to  do  his  bufmefs  with  regularity  and  exaclnefs 
with  writings  and  receipts  ;  though  the  neglect  of  thefe  gives  rife 
to  more  than  half  the  quarrels,  law  fuits,  and  duels,  that  diftract 
the  world  !  Washington  pafied  through  life  without  any  of  thefe 
curfes  ;  for  in  all  his  dealings,  every  thing  was  fo  clearly  under- 
flood,  fo  fairly  exprefled,  that  there  was  no  room  for  heart-burn- 
ings. His  exaclnefs  in  bufmefs  extended  to  all,  not  excepting  even 
thofe  whom  he  moft  dearly  loved.  He  laid,  "  It  was  one  of  the 
41  befl  means  to  preferve  love.  Some  think  exa6lnefs  unneceffary 
"  between  relations  and  friends.  But  alas  I  love  is  apt  to  wan 
"  cold,  and  then  felfiflmefs  returns.  When  an  account  is  old,  and 
"  much  tangled,  both  fides  are  too  prone  to  fufpicion.  Sufpicion 
"  is  a  painful  feeling,  and  quarrels  among  relations  are  thedifgrace 
"  and  bane  of  life." 

The  inconfiderate  may  fay,  that  such  ^f^w^wmanifefts  a  littleness 
of  mind  unworthy  of  Wamington.  But  in  reply,  Wafhington 
himfelf  affures,  that,  every  thing  great,  good,  or  bappy  in  the  lot  of 
man,  is  connected  with  bis  industry  and  attention  to  business.  ^Lbro* 
neglect  of  these,  bis  estate  melts  away,  and  debts  are  contracted.  Debt 
haunts  the  mind — Creditors  dun  and  barrass — a  wife  mourns  for 
comforts  which  she  enjoyed  under  her  father's  roof- — bis  children  cry 
for  bread — and  bis  daughters  turn  away  their  tearful  eyes  from 
prospects  on  which  they  \nust  no  longer  look — These  things  are  dis- 
tressing, they  sour  the  temper  /  arid  mar  bis  happiness.  T'be  morn- 
ing of  bis  days,  which  rose  so  bright,  is  overcast— weaned  is  his  at- 
tacbment  to  life,  and  the  sight  of  the  horrid  pistol  is  welcome. 

Such  are  the  sorrows  of  the  debtor,  while  be  continues  honest.  But 
alas  !  such  trials  are  found  too  heavy  for  most  men.  By  degrees  they 
undermine  the  moral  principles,  and  reconcile  a  man  to  practices 
which  he  once  abhorred.  His  first  failure  of  payment,  or  breach  of 
promise  is  painful  to  him  :  when  be  considers  at  bow  low  a  rate  bis 
word  must  hereafter  pass,  be  sinks  in  bis  own  eyes  ;  but  by  degrees 
bis  dijficulties  bring  him  to  study  deceiving  as  an  art,  and  at  last  be 
lies  to  bis  creditors  without  a  blush  !  .'  With  the  loss  of  truth  the 
silken  cord  of  friendship  is  dissolved.  .He  seizes  the  moment  of  un- 
suspecting ajfefrlion  to  ensnare  the  generous  friends  of  bis  youth  ; 
borrowing  money  which  he  will  never  pay,  and  binding  them  for 
debts  wLicb  they  must  hereafter  answer. 

Thus  be  sells  the  dear  bliss  of  loving  and  being  beloved  !  !  His  calls 
still  are  pressing  ;  and  now,  an  ingenuity,  which  in  a  better  cause 
might  have  immortalized  bis  name,  is  exerted  to  evade  the  law,  to 
d?-.e'<  ve  tbe  world— io  pervert  the  relation  of  father  and  son,  trans- 
ferring goods  from  the  one  to  the  otbtr  to  defraud  bis.  creditors.  FL-~ 

H 


ticious  bills,  false  securities  !  dark  conveyances  !  mysteries  of  Ini- 
quity !  0  my  soul,  come  not  tbou  into  bis  secrets,  into  bis  assembly 
mine  honour  be  not  tbou  united  /  Bankruptcy  now  at  band,  be  makes 
a  last  grasp  with  bis  expiring  credit,  takes  what  be  can,  once  mere, 
from  friends  and  neighbours,  from  the  ignorant  and  unsuspecting— 
purchases  goods,  at  any  rate,  from  all  who  will  trust  bim,  and  sells 
them  for  ready  money,  at  baif  tbeir  value  !  Inhuman  wretch  .'  One 
would  suppose  that  when  the  bustle  is  over,  painful  reflations  must 
'arise,  on  friends,  whom  be  bas  brought  to  ruin  ;  •  on  neighbours, 
whose  generosity  be  bas  abused  ;  on  the  savings  of  the  poor  labour- 
er, which  be  bas  seized,  disappointing  bis  hopes  of  honest  coirfort  ; 
on  the  staff  of  the  aged,  which  be  bas  snatched  away,  dashing  bim, 
infirm  and  helpless  on  the  cold  ground  of  charity  •  on  the  dignity 
of  human  nature,  which  he  bas  disgraced  ;  and  on  ::be  credit  and 
character  of  bis  country  which  be  bas  contributed  to  blast  /  but  his 
heart  is  a  stranger  to  the  relentings  of  humanity. 

The  cruel  sacrifice  of  others  comforts,  is  often  made  that  the 
fuccefsful  fpeculator  may  accumulate  wealth  to  figure  in  the  Great 
World,  and  to  excite  admiration  like  that  we  felt  for  Wafliington. 
Miflaken  Man  !  Wafhington  won  our  hearts,  not  by  his  wealth, 
but  by  his  worth.  'Twas  his  great  virtues  and  services,  that  poured 
around  him  fuch  an  atmosphere  of  the  lovely  and  venerable,  that  no 
human  eye  could  look  on  him  without  feeling  unutterable  things" 
The  inofl  illuitrious  characters  from  Europe,  have  declared  that 
they  could  never  approach  him  without  awe.  While,  on  the  nerves 
of  his  countrymen,  the  fight  of  their  Wafliington  imprefied  those 
sentiments,  which  a  bad  man,  with  the  riches  of  ten  thoufand 
worlds  could  never  command.  When  the  roar  of  Washington's 
wheels  was  heard  in  our  ftreets,  men,  women,  and  children  nocked 
to  the  doors  and  windows,  like  doves  to  the  beams  of  the  morn- 
ing. All  eyes  were  fixed  upon  him  ;  and  the  eager  look,  the 
heaving  bofom,  and  the  tear-bathed  cheek,  evinced  the  power  of 
virtue.  Dear,  delicious  feelings  of  veneration  and  love  !  Sweet 
heaven-favoured  offerings  of  the  foul  to  goodnefs  I  When  alafs  \ 
{hall  we  ever  taile  your  luxuries  again  !  O  Columbia  I  thy  Wafh- 
ington  is  gone  !  Thy  great  moralizing  teacher,  whofe  progrefs 
through  thy  cities,  though  filent,  yet  louder  than  the  preacher's 
voice,  proclaimed  to  admiring  thoufands  the  charms  of  virtue  ;  hp, 
is  gone  !  !  But  rife  Barlow,  Dwight  and  Humphreys  rife  !  take 
the  facred  harp  of  Columbia,  now  fallen  from  her  grief  flruck 
hand  :  Tune  the  notes  above  a  mortal  pitch,  and  raife  the  fweetly 
mourful  fong.  Let  your  voices  rife,  equal  to  the  theme,  and 
down  to  diftant  ages  pour  the  folemn  found.  The  children  of 
the  times  to  come  $}&!]  gather  around  the  long  :  they  fhall  hear 
of  their  father's  virtues,  and  may  emulate  his  fame. 


(         67         ) 

Oh  !  That  the  great  example  of  Washington  may  teach  us- — 

I.  The  infinite  importance  of  virtue,  to  true  glory.  Some,  feek 
a  fame  like  Wafhington,  and  would  let  the  world  a-itare  on  them, 
by  the  glitter  of  their  wealth  though  gained  by  means  which,  vir- 
tue w0uid  blush  at. 

Let  fuch  gentlemen  read  the  following  letter,  written  during  the 
Jail  w.ir,  from  an  Englifh  gentleman,  to  and  Englifh  duke. 

'  Yes,  you  are  a  duke  1  and  we  fee  your  ducal  coronet  on  your 
4  ftrumpet's  coach  !  Your  builder  and  baker,  your  butcher  and 

*  taylor  gnaw    their  nails  unpaid;    while  the  jocky  and  brother 

*  gambler,  receive  ready  cam  with  oflentatious  profufion.     Sharp- 
4  ers  and  proftitutes  with  all  the  qualities  of  thievery,  riot  in  thole 

*  riches  which  ought  to  be  paid  to  honeft  men,  who,  with  their  Fa- 
'  milies  are  ftarving  in  confequence   of  feeding  and  clothing  you. 

*  When  fuch  a  wretch  as  you,  can  be  the   companion  of  a  prince, 

*  and  privy   counfellor  to  the  king  of  Great-Britain  and  defender 

*  ofihefaitb  /  who  can  be  furprized,  or  who  can  lament  that  the 

*  fubjects  rebel,  and  that  the  Empire  is  difmembered  I    Under  a 
4  Ruler  like  you,  who  would  not  glory  in  the  illuftrious  character 

*  and  conduct  of  a— WASHINGTON  f  ?  ? 

What  a  compliment  to  virtue  !  Here  is  a  nobleman— i  favour- 
ite of  his  prince,  and  in  the  higheft  feat  of  honor  ;  laden  with 
wealth  and  glittering  with  titles  ;  and  yet,  all  this  availeth  him  no- 
thing. He  is  vicious  1  A  companion  of  (harpers  and  proftitutes, 
and  will  not  pay  his  debts  !  Hence  in  fpite  of  his  gold,  he  is  held 
Up,  an  object  of  fcorn  and  execration  to  the  world.  And  when  his 
chariot  rolls  into  the  flreets,  inftead  of  being  followed,  as  was  that 
of  Wafhington,  by  the  affectionate  looks  and  benedictions  of  all 
beholders,  it  ferves  worfe  than  the  crier's  bell,  to  call  angry  mer- 
chants and  difappointed  tradefmen  to  their  doors,  to  point  at  and 
curfe  the  paffmg  fcoundrel,  who  buys  of  every  body  and  pays 
nobody. 

While  on  the  other  hand,  there  is.Waihington  !  aflranger  to  the 
beau  monde,  fimply  an  American  Farmer,  and  wearing  no  stars,  nor 
titles,  fave  thofe  of  brightest  virtues,  and  yet  inthefe  he  appears  fo 
lovely,  fo  venerable,  that  honest  Britons  can't  look  on  him  without 
pleafure  they  forget  that  he  is  fighting  againfl  them—they  heap 
him  with  commendations,  and  foon  as  the  war  is  over,  they  (hip  off 
to  him  innumerable  prefents.  Britifh  farmers  fend  him  their 
cheeses  /  Britifh  authors,  the  incenfe  of  their  praifes  ..Brhifh  Bi- 
shops, elegant  bibles,  and  Britifh  Lords,  e.  g.  Tha  Earl  of  Bu- 
chan  and  his  friends,  a  precious  box  lined  with  gold,  *nd  made  of 
the  oak  that  flickered  the  great  Sir  William  Wallace  after  the  bat- 
tle of  Falkirk.  This  was  fent  to.  Waftifngton  as  to,  "  the  great 
cst  and  best  man  in  the  world." 


(         68         ) 

Dear  countrymen  !  If  honeft  Britons  fo  loved  Wafhington,  how 
cmght  honest  Americans  to  love  one  another  ;  tho'  from  difference 
of  education  they  may  happen  to  differ  a  little  in  their  political 
opinions  I  ! 

II.  Let  us  admire  and  imitate  Wafhington's  facred  regard  for 
order  ;  and  due  fubmifllon  to  lawfully-ruling  power. 

All  human  fociety  requires  government.  Even  the  finallefl 
families  muft  be  unprofperous  and  miferable  without  it.  What 
then  is  to  be  expected  in  large  focieties  of  thoufands  and  millions 
^selfish  and  ambitious  mortals, unawed  by  divine  or  human  laws  I 
What,  Oh  !  Americans  1  but  the  moil  horrid  tragedies,  fpring- 
ing  from  pride,  fraud,  luft,  hate,  revenge,  &c.  and  wrought  up 
at  length  to  fuch  bloody  battles,  and  inhuman  maflacres,  with  fuch 
death-fcreams,  and  dying  groans,  as  to  give  horror-flruck  huma- 
nity, a  perfect  picture  of  the  habitations  of  the  damned  ?  But  no 
fooner  has  just  and  effective  government  raifed  aloft  her  awful 
form  ;  than  all  thefe  hell-begotten  monfters  clifappear.  The  fons  o'f 
violence  are  bound  in  chains,  or  cut  off  by  the  (word  of  juftice  ; 
the  cries  of  the  weak  and  oppreffed,  diilrefs  our  ears  no  more  ; 
fweet  peace  fmiles  over  all  ;  and  fecure  now,  of  enjoying  her  own 
delicious  fruits,  induilry  fprings  up,  with  eye  fparkling  with  honeft 
ambition  ;  millions  fall  to  work  ;  the  rich  ftore-houfes  of  nature 
are  broken  up  ;  earth,  water,  air,  and  fire,  lend  their  mighty  aids  ; 
and  arts,  fciences,  manufactures,  and  commerce  pour  a  flowing 
tide  of  bleiTmgs  round  the  world. 

Thefe  are  thy  peaceful  precious  fruits,  O  bleffed  government ! 
Thus  it  is  that  thou  enabled  man,  created  in  his  Maker's  image, 
and  touched  with  heaven's  own  fire,  to  imitate  his  God  ;  and,  like 
him,  to  call  beauty  out  of  deformity,  and  order  out  of  Chaos  ! 

Wafhington's  life  exhibits  immortal  monuments  of  his  fenfe  of 
the  bieffings  of  government,  and  the  great  duty  of  cheerful  fubmif- 
fion  to  it.  Frequent  were  the  opportunities  which  he  had  to  wear 
the  brighteft  gold  and  purple  that  fceptre-fe eking  ambition  could 
covet  :  But  he  defpifed  them  all.  Charmed  with  that  heaven 
which  refults  from  good  government,  and  a  prompt  obedience  to 
it,  he  readily  returned  the  glittering  fword  of  the  victorious  Gene- 
raliffimo, — ftepped  down  from  the  exalted  chair  of  fupreme  ma- 
giftracy— mixed  as  a  commoner  among  the  citizens — obeyed  thofe 
whom  he  had  been  accuftomed  to  command — honoured  the  Prefi- 
dent — revered  the  laws — paid  his  taxes,  and,  in  every  refpect,  be- 
haved as  became  the  man,  who  was  fully  poffcffed  of  this  great 
idea,  that,  in  exact  proportion  to  our  union,  will  be  our  ilrength, 
our  peace  and  profperity  at  home,  and  our  refpectability  and  fuc- 
tefs  abroad* 


(         69         ) 

Let  us  my  fellow-citizens,  as  we  revere  the  memory  of  George 
Wulhington— As  we  honor  the  mighty  God  of  order,  whom 
Wafhington  honored — As  we  would  live  the  life  and  die  the 
death  of  that  righteous  man,  O  let  us  imitate  this  greatest  becaufe 
be st  example  in  his  moft  exemplary  life. 

If  ever  there  was  a  people  under  the  canopy  of  heaven,  who  had 
reafon  to  be  cheerfully  obedient  to  their  government,  we  are  that 
people.  The  form  of  our  government,  is  of  all  others,  the  moft 
conducive  to  our  best  interests  ;  and  therefore  the  molt  perfect. 
Widely  different  from  the  liberty  and  fafety  of  our  republican 
form,  moft  of  the  nations  of  the  world,  groan  under  the  caprice 
and  cruelty  of  kingly  governments.  That  a  people  may  be  happy 
under  the  adminiftration  of  a  wise  and  good  king,  we  all  agree,  be- 
caufe, thank  God,  there  have  been  charming  inftances  of  it  ;  but 
then  alas  I  wife  and  good  kings  are  very  rare,  almoft  as  rare  as 
Waihingtons.  The  pride  and  ambition  common  to  man,  nurfed 
in  the  hot-bed  of  a  court,  and  high  fed  on  luxury  and  flattery,  too 
generally  run  up  into  the  vile  ft  moniters,  at  once  the  dif grace  and 
curfe  of  human  kind. 

"  When  I  look  around  me  (fays  the  Rev.  Dr.  Chandler,  one  of 
the  ornaments  both  of  Engliih  learning  and  piety)  on  the  prefent 
kings  of  Europe,  I  am  apt  to  aik  myfelf,  what  is  there  in  moft  of 
them  that  mould  make  their  fubjects  wiih  their  lives,  or  regret 
their  deaths  ?  Actuated  by  ambition  or  revenge,  or  funk  in  indo- 
lence and  pleafure,  they  wafte  the  riches  of  their  people  in  the 
moft  abominable  extravagance  and  diffipation  ;  or  rum  their  fub- 
jects into  war,  to  the  certain  murder  and  ruin  of  thoufands  of 
them.  And  as  to  our  own  kings,  fome  of  them  involved  us  in  all 
the  calamities  of  civil  wars  ;  others  impoverifhed  and  opprefled  us 
by  illegal  exactions  ;  and  the  generality  of  them,  either  by  their 
own  choice,  or  led  by  wicked  minifters,  facrificed  the  national  in- 
tereft  to  their  own  accurfed  ambition,  revenge,  and  national  de- 
bauchery." 

And  when  the  ancient  Jews,  in  evil  hour,  applied  to  God  for 
a  king,  he  told  them  they  did  not  know  what  they  were  afking 
-  for.  "  This,"  faid  he,  by  his  prophet  Samuel,  "  will  be  the  cha- 
racter (meaning  the  general  character)  of  the  king  that  (hall  reign 
over  you  :  he  will  take  your  fons  to  be  his  horfemen,  and  fome 
fhall  run  before  his  chariots.  And  he  will  fet  them  to  ear  his 
ground,  and  to  reap  his  harveft.  And  he  will  take  your  daugh- 
ters to  make  his  paftry,  and  to  be  his  cooks  and  bakers.  And  he 
will  take  your  goodlieft  )-oung  men,  and  your  affes  and  put  them  all 
to  his  work  :  and  ye  fhall  be  his  fervants.  And  ye  fhall  cry  out  in 
that  day  becaufe  of  your  king  which  ye  fhall  have  chofen  unto  you  ; 
and  the  Lord  will  not  hear  you  in  that  day." 


What  thanks  do  we  not  owe  to  God  that  we  and  our  dear  chil- 
dren are  not  under  fuch  curfes  ;  the  too  frequent  fruits  of  a  king- 
ly government  !  Curfes,  from  which,  as  we  have  juft  read,  it  is 
fo  exceedingly  difficult  to  be  delivered.  For  when  once  a  king 
(though  not  worfe  in  grain  than  other  men)  gets  feated  on  a  throne, 
his  fpirits  are  put  in  fuch  a  delicious  tumult  by  the  pomps  and  plea- 
fures  of  royalty,  that  he  cannot  think  of  ever  letting  them  go  out 
of  his  hands.  To  fecure  thefe  forever  in  his  family,  he  raifes  all 
the  money  he  poffibly  can  by  taxes,  and  creates  innumerable  offices, 
places  of  honour  and  profit,  which  he  artfully  gives  to  his  own 
friends  and  creatures.  Thus  he  Jiecces  the  people  to  pay  for  their 
own  fetters.  For  every  officer  under  government,  from  the 
prime  minifter  to  the  tax  gatherer,  receiving  his  place  from  the 
king,  "  eating  his  majefly's  bread,"  is  ready  for  throat- cutting  if 
he  hears  but  a  dog  bark  againft  him.  So  that  the  poor  flaves  may 
groan  and  cry,  they  and  their  children  from  generation  to  gene- 
ration. 

But  blefled  be  God,  the  friend  of  America,  who  has  given  vis 
a  government  under  which  we  are  not  liable  to  fuch  fufferings. — 
At  the  end  of  the  war  in  84,  having  thrown  of  the  Britifh  monar- 
chy, we  wanted  a  government  for  ourfelves.  And  never,  fure,  was 
a  nation  favoured  with  a  fairer  chance  to  get  a  good  one.  We  were 
innocent  and  perfectly  free  :  We  had  WASHINGTON,  FRANKLIN, 
ADAMS,  JEFFERSON,  HENRY,  MADISON,  and  a  great  many 
others  the  moft  enlightened  and  virtuous  patriots  in  the  world.— 
We  were  wife  enough  to  afk  their  affiftance,  and  they  gave  us  a 
pure  Republican  government  ;  that  is,  a  government  which  pre- 
ferves  the  fupreme  power  facred  in  our  own  hands,  where  God 
intended  it  Ihould  be — a  government  which  contains  wholefome 
Uws  aiming  equally  at  the  happinefs  of  every  honeft  man  (of  the 
poorefl  peafant  a-s  well  as  John  Adams)  with  a  regular  courfe  of 
law  and  juftice  for  the  redrefs  of  grievances — A  government 
which  make  wife  provifion  for  amending  Itself  whenever  neceflary, 
which  appoints  an  uninterrupted  fucceffion  of  officers,  in  the 
way  of  a  free  election — a  government  which  commits  not  the  ad- 
miniftration  of  fuch  ineftimable  blefiings  to  any  one  man,  (which 
were  madnefs  indeed)  but  to  a  number  of  men  ?  and  not  to  thefe  as 
forming  one  body  (which  were  as  mad  as  entrufting  it  to  one  man) 
but  three  bodies,  Prefident,  Senate  and  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives, 
and  thefe  fo  nicely  balanced  as  to  check  each  other  in  their  fmalleft 
attempts  on  our  liberties— and  a  government  which  orders  thefe 
her  fervants,  Prefident,  Senate,  and  Reprefentatives,  to  make 
quick  returns  to  us  of  the  power  with  which  we  entrufted  them  ; 
the  Prefident,  at  the  end  of  every  four  years  ;  and  the  Reprefen- 
tatives, of  every  two  years  ;  and  therefore  does  not  allow  them. 


time  to  hatch  their  infernal  eggs  of  ambition  even  if  they  were 
fuch  Daemons  as  to  be  impregnated  with  them  ;  but  ftrongly  binds 
them  to  their  beft  behaviour,  that  they  may  be  beloved  as  Wafhing- 
ton,  and  be  defied  again  ;  and  obliges  them  to  make  the  best  laws 
as  they  themfelves  are  fo  foon  to  obey. 

Other  wretched  nations,  even  in  pafling  from  the  flavery  of  one 
tyrant  to  another,  have  been  obliged  to  wade  through  feas  of  their 
own  countrymen's  blood  :  but  we  obtained  ours  without  any  flrug- 
gles  among  ourfelves  ;  without  the  lofs  of  a  lingle  drop  of  Ameri- 
can  blood. 

Who  can  reflect  on  that  gracious  guardian  power  of  America, 
which  brought  us  fafely  through  our  alarming  war  againft  Great 
Britain,  which  not  only  enabled  us  to  repel  Lord  North's  attempts 
on  our  liberties,  but,  far  beyond  our  firfl  and  moft  fanguine  expec- 
tations, to  eftablifh  ourfelves  Free  and  Independent  States  ;  and 
then,  without  the  leaft  ftruggle  or  blood-med  among  ourfelves, 
kindly  fpread  over  our  favoured  heads,  the  heavenly  canopy  of  an 
excellent  government,  pouring  down  on  us  all  the  bleffings  of  juft 
and  equitable  fociety ;  fecuring  to  every  honeft  man  and  his  fami- 
ly, the  fweet  and  precious  fafeties  of  his  liberty,  his  life,  his  health, 
his  character,  h^s  property,  his  religion,  and  in  fine,  of  every  blef- 
iing  connected  with  his  higheft  happinefs  in  this  world,  and  with 
his  preparation  for  eternal  happinefs  in  the  next — who,  I  fay,  can 
think  of  this  profufion  of  riches,  mercies  conferred  on  our  coun- 
try, above  all  other  countries  in  the  world,  without  feeling  his  foul 
oppreffed  and  almoft  overwhelmed  with  afenfeof  the  Divine  muni- 
ficence, as  Waihington  exprefles  it  ?  or  without  joining  him  in^ 
unceafmg  prayers  to  God,  that  be  may  continue  to  us  the  choicest  to- 
kens of  bis  benificence — Tbat  our  union  and  brotherly  love  may  be 
perpetual.  But,  if  the  blefled  effects  refulting  from  order  and 
good  government  cannot  prevail  on  us  to  join  in  this  divine  prayer, 
let  us  at  leaft  take  a  view  of  the  horrors  which  may  refult  from 
writing  and  talking  fo  as  to  create  parties  and  factions  among  us. 

Caft  your  eyes  over  ancient  Rome,  while  virtuous  and  united 
the  mighty  Miftrefs  of  the  world  1  but  no  fooner  had  the  evil  fpi- 
rit  of  party  and  faction  crept  in  among  them,  than  the  old  Roman 
fteel  became  as  a  rope  of  fand  falling  into  pieces  of  itfelf.  One  of 
thefe  devoted  parties  fnatched  up  Sylla,  fwearing  by  Pluto  and  the 
Styx  that  he  was  the  honefleft  fellow  in  all  Rome  ;  the  others  damn- 
ed themfelves  by  Jupiter,  and  all  the  Gods,  Celeftial,  Tereftrial 
and  Infernal,  that  Sylla  was  a  villain  and  not  fit  to  hold  a  candle  to 
Marius.  Of  courfe  Marius  was  pitied.  Fluent  orators  mounted 
the  tud.  Parchments  (for  they  had  no  paper  in  thofe  days)  were 
ftained  as  black  as  ink  with  Latro  and  Frr^  and  all  the  Latin  words 
that  flood  for  foape-gallows,  and  damned  fcoundrel^  and  fo  on. — 


Siich  fuel  as  this  foon  blew  up  the  flame  to  a  pitch  beyond  reftramt. 
Marius  firft  opened  the  horrid  fcenc  and  glutted,  his  followers 
with  the  blood  and  wealth  of  the  friends  of  Sylla  ;  Sylla  repaid  the 
Marian  faction  in  the  fame  coin,  and  with  intereft.  In  thefe  unna- 
tural contells  thoufands  of  Roman  citizens  were  butchered ;  their 
wives  and  children  barbarouily  turned  out  of  doors,  and  their 
eftates  confifcated  and  fold  to  cram  the  purfes  and  to  fatten  the  vices 
of  their  diabolical  deftroyers.  Bloody  battles  were  often  fought 
in  the  very  ftreets  :  and  wretched  Rome  mpre  than  once  experi- 
enced from  her  own  citizens  all  the  horrors  of  a  city  taken  by 
florm. 

And  in  the  hiflories  of  the  civil  wars  of  Great-Britain,  and,  here 
lately  of  France,  we  may  behold  the  fame  horrid  features  of  fac- 
tion. Here  are  two  parties,  Whigs  and  Tories,,  or  Ariftocrats 
and  Democrats.  A  little  time  ago,  while  they  had  a  government, 
though  a  very  imperfect  one,  they  loved  each  other  as  children  of 
the  fame  country  and  conftitution,  and  would  in  a  moment  have 
fought  for  one  another  with  all  the  heroifrn  of  magnanimous  bro- 
thers :  But  now,  fplit  into  parties  and  driving  at  different  interefls, 
they  regard  each  other  as  enemies.  Jealoufy  and  hatred,  true  mi- 
crofcopes  of  hell,  ar^  before  their  eyes  and  conceal  from  each  all 
the  good  qualities  and  intentions  of  the  other  ;  and  at  the  fame 
time,  to  distort,  magnify  and  blacken  all  their  defigns  and  actions, 
that  they  appear  to  each  other  as  little  better  than  devils.  Their 
News-Papers  too,  as  if  warm  and  fmoaking  from  the  preffes  of  the 
damned,  lend  all  their  fire  and  brimllone  to  feed  the  infernal 
flame.  "  T'be  Aristocrats  !  (cries  the  paffion-choacked  printer  on 
the  other  fide.)  The  Aristocrats  !  A  set  of  unfeeling  Kingly  Vil- 
lains !  Monsters  of  Pride,  who  ^ould as  lieve  drive  their  gilt  cha- 
riots over  a  poor  man,  as  over  a  dog  :  and  would  devour  widows 
bouses  for  a  stake  at  an  0.  E.  table  !  Vile  miscreants,  who  only 
want  a  kingly  government  that  tbey  may  Jleece  and  lord  it  over  the 
poor  /" 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Ariftocrat  Gazette  give  chapter  and  verfe 
for  it,  that  ct  The  Democrats  are.  a  lazy  vicious  race,  whose  poverty 
and  lice  make  tbem  envy  and  bate  the  rich  •/  and  who  will  never  be 
at  rest,  until,  bavirg  trampled  down  religion,  4  laws,  and  govern- 
ment, they  are  at  full  liberty,  like  wild  Arabs,  to  rob  and  plunder 
their  wealthier  neighbours." 

Grounded  now  on  fomething  like  love  of  public  good,  the  bad 
paffions  of  the  two  parties  rage  with  redoubled  fury.  They  feluom 
meet  in  company  without  fierce  contentions  and  bloody  frays. — 
Duels  and  murders  arc  frequent.  The  devoted  wretches,  as  they 
pafs  each  other  in  the  ftreets,  can  read  death  in  one  anothers  dark 


(     73     ) 

faces  and  glaring  eyes.  The  horrid  tragedy  ripens  fa  ft,  and  tlie 
dreadful  florm  is  on  the  very  eve  of  hurtling.  Numerous  ravens, 
with  ill-brooding  croaks  and  terrifying  fcreams,  are  feen  flapping 
their  wings  flow  and  fad,  over  the  fated  city.  All  night  long 
fearful  noifes  are  heard  in  the  air,  as  of  groans  from  dying  per- 
fons  ;  while  frightful  meteors,  in  fhape  of  fiery  balls,  {hoot  thro' 
the  gloom,  leaving  long  hideous  tracks  behind  them,  like  {Ireatns 
of  blood.  In  the  morning,  the  awful  roar  of  guns  is  heard  in  the 
midft  of  the  city.  Trembling  fiezes  on  the  aged,  while  the  feeble 
fex  ficken  with  terrors  unfelt  before.  The  men  fnatch  up  armr., 
and  rufli,  in  tumultuous  crowds,  to  the  place  whence  the'  noife 
proceeds.  Imme'nfe  is  the  concourfe.  The  orators  on  both  fides 
get  up  to  addrefs  the  eager  throngs,  and  with  bittereft  abufe  in- 
flame their  padions  againft  each  other  to  madnefs.  The  fierce  up- 
roaring  crowds  can  withhold  no  longer.  With  horrid  impreca- 
tions, with  faces  black  with  rage,  and  eye-balls  flalliing  fire,  they 
fly  at  each  other  like  tygers.  They  plunge  their  knives,  fwords, 
and  daggers  into  each  others  hearts.  Pale  and  daggering,  with' 
mutual  curfe-s  in  death,  they  fink  to  the  ground.  The  ftreets  are 
floated  with  blood.  The  dead  bodies  He  heaps  on  heaps,  while 
women  and  children,  with  wringing  hands,  and  heart-piercing 
cries,  demand  their  hufbands,  their  fathers,  and  their  brothers.  - 

Thefe,  0  accursed  Faction  and  Party  !  Thefe  lire  your  bloody 
fruits  !  Thus-  it  is,  that  by  filling  our  fouls  with  the  pafiions  of. 
the  damned,  you  turn  man  into  a  devil  to  man,  you1  turn  the  fair- 
eft  cities  into  flaughter-houfes,  you  turn  earth  itfelf,  the  goodly' 
creation  of  God,  into  the  hell  from  whence  you  came!; 

Thefe  unutterable  curfes  of  Fa£lion  and  Party,  rofe  often  on 
the  mind  of  WASHINGTON,  and  ihook  his  parent  foul  with  trem- 
bling for  America.  Hence  it  v/as,  that,  during  the  uncertainty 
whether  thele  dates  would  adopt  a  Federal  Government,  WASH- 
INGTON was  never  seen  to  smile  /  a  dark  gloom  hung  condantly  on 
his  face,  and  his  eyes  oftea  looked  as  if  he  had  been  weeping  -9 
and  hence  it  was  that  he  poured  out  his  foul,  u  in  unceasing  vows 
to  God,  tbat  our  union  and  brotherly  love  might  be  everlasting."*'* 

O  my  countrymen  !  If  we  would  partake,  with  ou'r  WASHING- 
TON, of  thofe  eternal  delights  which  are  prepared  for  the  children 
of  peace  ;  let  us,  with  him,  make  a  covenant  with  our  fouls  to 
fly  from  party  fpirit,  as  from  the  bane  and  damnation  of  all  Re- 
publics ;  and  the  only  demon  that  can  prevent  favoured  America 
from  riling  to  be  the  greatest  and  happiest  among  the  nations.  Let. 
us  all  (whether  Peafant  or  Prefident)  whether  for  Adams  or  Jcf- 
ferfon)  as  dear  children  of  God,  and  brothers  of  WASHINGTON, 
sbiui,  us  we  would  hell-firs,  every  word  and  acl  that  may  neeulefs-  , 
}j  provoke  each  othsr  to-  wrath  and  strife.-  Thefe  arc  not  th-/ 

we  anon* 


(     74    ) 

Weapons  of  converfion,  but,  of  obduracy  ;  they  have  beerf  potent 
to  cut  the  throats  of  millions  of  our  race  ;  but  have  never  yet  re- 
claimed one  soul  from  error  and  prejudice. 

In  the  foregoing  pages  we  have  feen  a  fketch  of  the  life  of 
Wafhington  ;  of  him,  who  was  the  pride  of  America,  and  boaft 
of  human  kind;  who  united  in  himfelf  fuch  a  Conftellation  of  vir- 
tues as  sweetly  affure  us  of  Immortality — of  our  relation  to  AN- 
QELS — and  of  our  capacities  for  glories  and  felicities,  that  {hall 
know  no  bounds. 

It  is  hardly  exaggeration  to  fay  that  WASHINGTON  was  pious 
as  Numa  ;  juil  as  Arillides  ;  temperate  as  Epi<5tetus  7  patriotic  as 
Regulus  ;  in  giving  public  trulls,  impartial  as  Severus  ;  in  victo- 
ry, modeft  as  Scipio  ;  prudent  as  Fabius  ;  rapid  as  Marcellus  ; 
undaunted  as  Hannibal ;  as  Cincinnatus  difinterefted  ;  to  liberty 
firm  as  Cato  ;  and  reipedlful  of  the  laws  as  Socrates.  Or,  to 
fpeak  in  plainer  terms  ;  he  was  religious  without  fuperftition  ; 
juft  without  rigour;  charitable  without  profusion ;  hoipitable 
without  making  others  pay  for  it ;  generous  but  with  his  own 
money;  rich  without  covetoufnefs  ;  frugal  without  meannefs  ; 
humane  without  weaknefs  ;  brave  without  raihnefs  ;  fuccefsful 
without  vanity  ;  victorious  without  pride  ;  a  lover  of  his  country, 
but  no  hater  of  French  or  Engliili ;  a  (launch  friend  of  govern- 
ment, but  refpe&ful  to  thofe  who  pointed  out  its  defects  with  de- 
cency ;  true  to  his  word  without  evaiion  or  perfidy  ;  firm  in  ad- 
veriity  ;  moderate  in  profperity ;  glorious  and  honoured  in  life  ; 
peaceful  and  happy  in  death. 

Thus  fingularly  virtuous  was  the  man,  whom  Heaven  was 
pleafed  to  felecl  as  his  honoured  inftrument  to  eftabliili  this  great 
WESTERN  REPUBLIC.  And  if  every  thing  be  duly  confidered, 
I  truft  it  will  appear  WASHINGTON  was  raifed  up  of  God  as  a 
forerunner  to  fome  mighty  event.  In  1774,  when  a  dark  gloom 
hung  over  the  fpirits  of  our  Fathers  :  a  gloom,  occafioned  by  the 
,  alarm  of  a  mighty  nation  coming  forward,  with  her  armies  and 
fleets,  ^  {hading  the  Ocean)  to  ftrike  at  our  deareft  liberties  ;  then 
it  was,  that  the  Spirit  of  God  came  mightily  on  WASHINGTON, 
and  raifed  him  up  as  an  Enfign  of  Hope  to  our  trembling  country- 
men. And  when  we  confidsr  how  wonderfully  this  man  was  ena- 
bled to  inipire  confidence  ;  infomuch  that  thirteen  little  Colonies, 
which,  a  few  years  before,  had  been  thrown  into  a  panic  by  a 
handful  of  French  Indians,  now  headed  by  WASHINGTON,  were 
refolved  to  oppofe  one  of  the  moft  formidable  powers  in  Europe. 
When  we  confider,  how  wonderfully  he  infpired  Union  ;  infomuch 
that  all  the  fouls  of  thirteen  Colonies,  fo  widely  diftant  in  their 
iituation,  religion,  cuftoms,  and  interefts,  clave  to  him  even  as 
one  man,  beyond  all  conje&ure  of  reafon,  and  all  iufpicion  of 

kord 


(     75     ) 

Lord  North — when  we  confider,  how  rniraculouily  this  man  Was 
preferved  to  us,  during  our  long  and  critical  ftruggle,  notwith* 
{landing  the  attempts  (one  or  two  of  which  have  come  to  light) 
that  were  made  to  take  him  from  us — when  we  confider,  how 
wonderfully  he  kept  up  the  fpirit,  and  the  Union,  of  thofe  (rates , 
during  the' long  conteft  of  eight  years,  notwithstanding  the  many- 
horrors  and  diilrefles  of  war,  the  great  want  of  luxuries  for  the 
rich,  and  of  neceffaries  and  pay  for  the  Soldiers — And,  after  the 
eftabliflunent of  Heaven-born  freedom  in  our  land;  how  wonder- 
fully,  his  parental  influence  led  the  people  ofthefe  ftates  to  adopt 
one' grand  fyitem  of  pure  Republican  policy,  happily  uniting  civil 
liberty  with  effective  government — when,  1  fay,  all  this  is  con- 
fidered,  who  but  muft  feel  a  fweet  flutter  of  hope  that  great  events 
are  connected  with  us,  and  that  God  has  lent  on  his  fervant 
WASHINGTON,  as  a  Day-Star  to  fome  mighty  Revolution,  big  with 
bleffings  to  mankind,  which  will  ere  long  dawn  on  the  land  where 
WASHINGTON,  was  born?  Perhaps,  God  may  be  about  to  eftab- 
lifli  here  a  mighty  empire,  for  the  reception  of  a  happiness  un- 
known on  earth,  fince  the  days  of  blifsful  Eden.  An  Empire, 
where  Religion  fliall  continue,  through  immemorial  time,  to  un- 
fold aloft  her  facred  banner  celeflial  white,  untorn  by  date  viola- 
tion, and  unftained  by  the  impious  touch  ofwordling  priefts.  An 
empire,  that  fhall  afford  a  welcome  retreat  to  all  the  uncorrupt- 
ed  fons  of  freedom,  when  Liberty  is  forcibly  driven  from  every 
other  realm — An  Empire,  that  fliall  open  a  vafl  Theatre  for  the 
difplay  of  the  grand  tranfaclions  of  providential  wifdom — Tranf- 
actions  marked  with  more  than  human  manners  and  characters, 
that  ftiall  not  relate  to  this  or  to  any  other  nation  alone — That 
iliall  bear,  in-ftamped  upon  them,  the  broad  feal  of  God  himfelf ; 
either  evidently  pointing  to,  or  accomplifhing  the  grand  defigns 
of  his  providence,  Fulfilling  ancient  prophecies — Leading  our  pof- 
terity,  happy  in  future  days,  to  fee  the  glorious  kingdom  of  Mef- 
fiah,  rifing  by  degrees  out  of  the  Revolutions  and  deflruction  of  the 
kingdoms  of  this  world.  When  nation  ftiall  no  more  lift  up  the  ** 
fword  againft  nation,  nor  torrents  of  human  blood  flow  down  from 
ihameful  variance  betwixt  man  and  man. — When  the  creature 
travelling  in  pain,fliali  no  more  life  the  piteous  eye,  with  groans 
unutterable,  to  God — But,  when  the  uninjuring,  the  unfuffefing 
kingdom  of  Chrift  being  come,  men  fliall  no  longer  hurt  nor  de- 
ftroy  in  the  earth,  butthe  Leopard  and  Kid  fliall  lie  down  toge- 
ther; and  the  young  Lion  and  the  Calf;  and  a  little  Child  fliall 
lead  them — When  glad  fongs  of  peace  fliall  warble  through  every 
land,  and  the  fruits  of  love  fliall  overfpread  the  earth  as  waters 
cover  the  fea. 

Who  without  tears  of  joy  can  think  of  inch  a  glorious  day  of 

happmef§ 


happinefs  about  to  dawn,  e're  long  perhaps,  on  the  land  of  WASH- 
INGTON? Or  without  feeling  himfelf  under  new  andfacred  obliga- 
tions to  do  every  thing  that  may  invite  it  ?  And  it  is  in  our  power 
to  invite  it — Yes,  if  our  country  were  filled  with  fuch  men  as 
Wafhington,  that  glorious  day  would  this  moment  fliine  upon  us. 
For,whence  are  the  fweet  beams  of  peace  and  happinefs,but  from 
the  fun  of  Virtue  ?  And  if  the  fun  of  virtue  did  but  gild  our  plains, 
how  foon  would  our  defert  rejoice  and  blofibm  like  the  rofe  ?  Hovr 
foon  would  Earth  refemble  Heaven  ?  Temperance  would  pour 
her    ruddy  bleilings  around  our    land.     Induftry  would  fill  our 
barns  with  plenty,  and  caufe  our  profiles  to  burfl  out  with  new 
wine.     Righteous  dealing  would  make  us  to  be  refpecled  and  be- 
loved of  one  another,  while  mutual  affection  would  render  our 
fociety  fwcet  and  harmonious  as  that  of  deareft  friends  and  bro- 
thers.   Foreign  nations,  hearing   that  the   vine  of  Paradife  was 
planted   in  our  land,  would  haiten  to  feed  on  its  delicious  cluf- 
ters.     God,  even  our  own  God  would  give  us  his  bleffings,  the  lit- 
tle hills  would  clap  their  hands  with  joy,  and  con  fen  ting  clouds 
ihower  down  their  marrow  and  fatnefs  upon  us.     Since  then  it 
is  "  righteoufnefs  that  exalteth  a  nation  ;"  fince  the  eternal  de- 
cree is  paffed,  that  the  glory  of  nations  {hall  forever  rife  and  fall 
with  their  virtues,  let  us  then  if  we  do  indeed  love  our  country, 
and  would  have  he»  children  to  be  free  and  happy,  for  all  genera- 
tions i  let  us  now,  while  it  is    called  to-day,  vow  a  vow  to  God, 
that  we  will  endeavour  through  life  to  become  what  Wafhingtou 
was,  in  his  virtues.  O  I  let  us  confider  that  crown  of  glory  which 
he    now  wears,  the  bright  reward  of  his  virtues  ;  and  that  the 

fame  crown  is  prepared,  the  fame  virtues  expedled  of  us • 

Let  us  confider  that  thefe  form  the  great  errand  on  which  we 
were  fent  into  this  world — That  Heaven  and  earth  are  waiting 
on  us  for  this  purpofe — That  the  eyes  of  God  and  angels  are  fix- 
ed on  us  with  eager  expectation — And  that  the  venerable  fhades 
of  Washington,  and  our  fathers,  are  anxioufly  looking  on  us  for 
thefe  virtues,  to  make  happy  this  great  Republic  which  their  toil, 
and  fweat,  and  blood  fo  dearly  bought.  Since  then,  we  are  mo- 
ral fokliers,  fighting  for  an  immortal  prize,  for  pur f elves  and  for 
our  children  ;  "  Let  us  be  of  good  courage,  and  play  the  men  for 
pur  people  and  for  the  cities  of  our  God,  and  let  the  Lord  do  for 
cur  country  that  which  feerneth  him  good." 

THE  DEATH  OF  WASHINGTON. 

If  the  prayers  of  millions  could  have  prevailed,  WASHINGTON 
•would  have  been  immortal  on  the  earth.  And  if  fullnefs  of 
peace,  riches 'and  honors,  could  have  rendered  that  immortality 

happy, 


(    77     ) 


happy,  WASHINGTON  had  been  blefled  indeed.  But  this  World 
is  not  the  place  of  true  happinefs.  Though,  innumerable  are  the 
fatisfatStions,  which  a  prudence  and  virtue  tike  WASHINGTON'S 
may  enjoy  in  this  world,  yet  they  fall  fliort,  infinite  degrees,  of 
that  pure  unimbittered  felicity,  which  God,  the  Almighty  Parent, 
has  prepared  in  heaven  for  the  children  of  bis  love. 

"  7 here  is  the  land  of  pure  delight, 

Where  blifsful  angels  reign ; 
The  glorious  day  ftill  knows  no  night, 

And  pleafures  banifli  pain. 

There  ever  blooming  Spring  abides, 

And  never  with'ring  flow'rs  ; 
Death  like  a  narrow  fea  divides, 

That  happy  land  from  ours. 

Sweet  fields  beyond  the  fwelling  flood, 

Stand  drefs'd  in  living  green  ; 
So  to  the  Jews  old  Canaan  flood, 

While  Jordan  roll'd  between." 

To  prepare  for  this  iramenfity  of  blifs,  this  eternity  of  joy,  is 
the  mighty  errand  on  which  God  fent  us  into  this  world.  Our 
preparation  confifts  in  acquiring  thofe  great  virtues,  Juftice,  Hu- 
mility, and  Love,  which,  and  which  alone  can  make  us  welcome 
companions  of  Angels,  and  worthy  members  of  their  illuflrious 
fociety.  WASHINGTON  had  wifely  fpent  his  life  in  acquiring 
thefe  immortal  virtues.  "  He  bad  fought  tbegoodjlgbt — againit 


God  Lad gi 

try.  He  bad  borne  the  beat  and  burden  of  the  day — his  great  day 
of  duty  ;  And  the  evening  (of  old  age)  being  come,  the  fcrvant 
of  God  mud  now  go  to  receive  his  wages.  Happy,  happy  WASH- 
INGTON I  If  Crowns  and  Kingdoms  could  have  purchased  fuch 
peace  like  thine,  fuch  fmiling  joy,  fuch  hopes  big  with  immorta- 
lity ;  with  what  begging  earneftnefs,  would  Crowns  and  Kingdoms 
have  been  offered  by  the  mighty  conquerors  of  the  earth,  in  their 
dying  moments  of  terror  and  defpair  ! 

On  the  i4th  day  of  December,  1799,  (when  he  wanted  but  9 
weeks,  and  2  days  ©f  being  68  years  old)  he  rode  out  on  his  plan- 
tation. The  day  was  very  raw  and  fnowy.  The  fame  night  he 
was  attacked  with  a  violent  pain  and  inliamation  of  the  throat. 
The  lancet  of  one  of  his  Domeitics  was  employed,  but  with  no  ad- 
vantage. 


vantage.  By  times  in  the  morning,  Dr.  Craik,  his  companion  in 
peace  and  war,  the  friend  and  phyfician  of  his  youth  and  age,  was 
fent  for.  Alarmed  at  the  leaft  appearance  of  danger  threaten- 
ing a  life  fo  dear  to  him,  Dr.  Craik  advifed  to  call  in,  immediate- 
ly, the  confulting  affiftance  of  his  friends,  the  ingenious  and  learn- 
ed Dr.  Dick  of  Alexandria,  and  Brown  of  Port  Tobacco.  They 
came  on  the  wings  of  fpeed.  They  felt  the  awfulnefs  of  their 
fituation.  They  knew  that  never  again  {hould  they  be  called  to 
fight  the  king  of  terrors  in  defence  of  fuch  a  prize. — They  faw 
the  MOURNFUL  GENIUS  of  AMERICA,  with  the  red  eyes  of  her 
grief,  bathed  in  tears,  fixed  on  her  fon  ;  fometimes  caft  on  them 
anxiofcfly  afking  their  affiftance.  The  greateft  of  all  human  be- 
ings was  no\v  lying  low  ;  a  life  of  all  others  the  moft  revered,  the 
moft  beloved  was  at  ftake.  Craik,  Dick  and  Brown,  the  ableft 
GUARDS  of  life,  were  ftationed  around  him  bending  over  the  pro- 
ftrate  hero.  If  human  {kill  and  folicitude  could  have  availed;  if 
the  fword  of  genius  and  the  buckler  of  experience  could  have  re- 
pelled the  blows  of  death,  WASHINGTON  had  ftill  lived.  Defeat- 
ed a  thoufand  times  by  their  fuperior  (kill,  when  lives  lefs  valua- 
ble were  contended  for,  Death  began  to  fear  left  this  great  prize 
fo  long  coveted  fliould  be  fnatched  from  him.  But  he  foon 
-felt  his  arm  invigorated  by  a  ftrength  not  bis  own.  The  great 
hour  was  come,  and  WASHINGTON  muft  die.  Yes  his  Maniionis 
prepared  above — The  crown  of  his  rejoicing  is  bright— The 
harps  of  the  bleffed  are  fining.  u  Let  the  angel  of  Death  con* 
duel;  the  foul  of  WASHINGTON  to  the  feafts  of  Heaven." 

It  appears,  that,  from  the  commencement  of  the  attack,  he 
was  favoured  with  a  prefentiment,  that,  he  was  now  laid  down 
to  rife  no  more.  He  took  however  the  medicines  that  were  of- 
fered him,  but  it  was'  principally  to  oblige  the  long-loved  partner 
of  his  heart  and  bed. 

It  has  been  faid  that  a  man's  death  is  a  true  copy  of  his  life. 
This  is  generally  the  cafe  with  thofe  who  die  in  their  fenf  js.  It 
was  WASHINGTON'S  cafe  exactly.  In  his  laft  illnefs  he  behaved 
•with  the  undaunted  firmnefs  of  a  foldier,  and  the  calm  refigna- 
tion  of  a  chriftian. 

-  The   inflamation  in  his  throat   was  attended  with  great  pain, 
which  he  bore  with  the  fortitude  that  became  him.  He  was, once 
or  twice,  heard  to  fay  thai,  had  it  pleafed  God,  he    fliould  have^ 
been  glad  to  die  a  little  eafier ;  but  that  he  doubted  not  that  it 
was  for  his  good. 

Every  hour  now  fpread  a  fadder  gloom  over  the  fcene.  De- 
fpair  fat  on  the  faces  of  the  phyficians  ;  for  they  faw  that  their 
art  had  failed.  The  ftrength  of  the  mighty  was  departing  from 
him  ;  and  death,  with  his  fad  harbingers,  chills,  and  palenefs, 
was  coining  on  apace. 


(    79     ) 

Mount  Vernow,  which  had  long  {hone  above  all  families,  the 
Queen  of  elegant  joys,  was  now  about  to  fuffer  a  fad  eclipfe  !  an 
Eclipfe,  which  would  foon  be  mournfully  vifible,  not  only  through 
the  United  States  but  throughout  the  world. 

An  awful  filence  prevails  throughout  the  fpacious  dwelling*—— 
The  big  grief  has  fealed  every  lip  and  darkened  every  counte- 
nance. His  fervants  are  now  about  to  lofe  their  long  loved  maf- 
ter  and  protector;  and  his  friends  to  bid  a  laft  adieu  to  the  en- 
dearing fociety  of  the  greateft  andbeft  of  human  kind.  Their  fa- 
ces are  fwollen  with  weeping,  and  torrents  of  bitter  tears  roll 
down  their  cheeks.  But  tho'  bitter,  yet  {hallow  are  their  ftreams 
of  forrow,  when  compared  with  that  flood  of  unutterable  woe, 
which  overwhelms  the  foul  of  his  life's  dear  companion.  Blefs'd 
with  a  foul  capable  of  loving  an  angel  fpirit  inhabiting  the  nobleft 
form,  {he  had  given  her  heart  and  hand  to  her  WASHINGTON  in 
early  life.  Forty  happy  years  had  they  lived  together  like  two 
lovers  joined  in  wedlock.  Every  year,  fweet  as  it  rolled  al'ong, 
marked  .their  ever-growing  loves — Loves,  which,  fed  by  mutual 
tendernefs  and  virtue,  were  continually  afcending  with  a  bright- 
er flame,  nearer  and  nearer  to  their  native  {kies — Loves,  which 
by  a  forty  years  intergrowth,  were  become  fo  incorporated,  as  to 
render  each  a  part  of  the  others  self.  O  !  how  heart  breaking !-— 
How  foul  rending  the  feparation  I  But  the  hour  of  feparation  is 
come !  She  can  keep  her  WASHINGTON  no  longer  1  He,  whofe  com- 
pany was  the  perpetual  feaft  of  her  foul,  mull  now  be  taken  from 
her !  That  voice  which  was  fweeter  to  her  car  than  the  mufic 
of  fongs,  {hall  charm  her  ear  no  more.  She  fhall  fpeak  to  him 
but  he  will  not  anfwer.  The  echo  of  her  voice  will  frighten  her 
own  foul.  That  face  which  was  welcomer  to  her  eyes  than  the 
ftreaks  of  the  morning,  {hall  rejoice  her  eyes  no  more.  She  {lull 
awake  in  the  morning  ;  but  {hall  not  fee  him — She  lhallfeek  him 
early  ;  but  {hall  not  find  him.  The  place  where  her  beloved  lay, 
will  be  empty  :  The  heavinefs  of  her  heart  returns  ;  her  tears  ct* 
grief  roll  down. 

Great,  honoured  Lady  !  what  but  the  arm  of  the  mighty  God 
of  Wafliington,  could  have  fupported  thee  in  that  difmal  hour  of 
darknefs  and  diftrefs !  And  he  did  fupport  thee.  The  confola- 
tions  of  religion  were  thine ;  and  her  confolations  are  mighty. 
Oft  had  thy  WASHINGTON  reminded  thee,  when  the  tear  fwelled 
in  thine  eye,  and  the  figh  of  thy  bofom  arofe  at  the  thought  of 
parting  ;  oft  had  he  reminded  thee  of  thofe  blifsful  {hores,  where 
the  fouls  of  the  virtuous,  efcaped  from  the  forrows  of  mortality, 
{hall  soon  meet  again,  infinitely  improved  ;  and  there  in  the  pre» 
i'ence  of  HIM  WHO  MADE  THEM,  (hall  pluck  and  eat  toge- 
ther in  communion  fweet,  the  rich  fruits  of  eternal  life. 

Sons 


) 


Sons  and  Daughters  of  Columbia  !  gather  yourfelves  together, 
arouftid  the  bed  of  your  fallen  hero  ;  around  the  bed  of  him  to 
whom  ' under  God)  you  and  your  children  are  indebted  for  the 
richefl  bleflings  of  life.  Whe'n  Jofephr  the  great  prime  minifter 
of  Egypt,  heard  that  his  ^ffjfcfayv^Father  was  fick,  he  haftened 
up  to  fee  him,  and  fell  on  his  neck,  and  luffed  him  and  wept.  Jo- 
feph  had  never  received  fuch  fervices  from  Jacob,  as  you  have 
received  from  WASHINGTON.  But  we  call  you  not  to  weep  for 
WASHINGTON.  We  aik  you  not  to  view  thofe  eyes,  now  funk 
and  hollow,  which  formerly  darted  their  lightening-flaihes  againft 
your  enemies ;  nor  to  feel  that  heart,  now  faintly-labouring, 
which  formerly  throbbed  with  more  than  mortal  joys,  when  he 
law  the  young  heroes  of  Columbia,  rufliing  on  in  rattling  fteel  to 
charge  the  foe  ?  nor  to  mark  that  arm,  now  feeble,  which  fo  of- 
ten waved  the  fiery  circled  fwordof  war,  pointing  where  the  roar 
of  battle  fhould  begin.  No,  we  call  you  not  to  weep  but  to  revere. 

The  Great  Star,  lighted  up  of  God,  to  lead  America  to  free- 
dom, is  now  fetting,  but  he  fets  in  glory.  He  looks  back  on  pad 
life,  as  on  a  goodly  field,  which  his  own  induftry,  under  the  di- 
vine bleffing,  has  it  re  wed  thick  with  richeH  fruits  and  flowers. 
He  looks  forward  with  joy  to  thofe  brighter  fcenes,  which  God 
lias  prepared  for  the  fpirits  of  the  juft.  None  ever  a£ted  better  up 
to  his  great  character,  in  life ;  and  none  ever  fuftained  its 
clofing  icenes  with  more  dignity  and  grace.  The  fummer  even- 
ing Iky  was  not  more  ferene  and  placid  than  his  countenance  ; 
while  his  reafon  was  elevated  and  clear  as  the  pure  arch  of  heaven. 

With  what  compofure  did  he  endure  the  violence  of  his  pains  ! 
With  what  expreilive  compofure  did  he  utter — tby  will  be  done  ! 
Even  when  the  coldfweats  hung  on  his  brow,  his  eye  fpoke  com- 
placency, and  a  noble  philofophic  joy,  fat  fmiling  on  his  face. 

Feeling,that  the  hour  of  his  departure  out  of  this  world  was  at 
hand  ;  he  defired  that  every  body  fhould  quit  the  room.  They  all 
went  out;  and  according  to  his  wiih,  left  him — with  his  God. 

There,  by  himfdf,  like  Mofes  alone  on  the  top  of  Pifgah,  he 
feeks  the  face  of  God.  There  by  himself,  {landing  as  on  the  -aw- 
ful boundary  that  divides  time  from  eternity — thatfeparates  this 
world  from  the  nest,  he  cannot  quit  the  long  frequented  haunts 
of  the  one,  nor  launch  away  into  the  untried  regions  of  the  o- 
thcr,  until  (in  humble  imitation  of  the  world's  great  Redeemer) 
he  has  poured  forth  into  the  bofom  of  his  God,  thofe  flrong  fenia- 
tions,  which  the  folemnity  of  his  lituation  naturally  fuggeited. 

With  what  angel  fervour  did  he  adore  that  Almighty  Love, 
which  though  inhabiting  the  heaven  of  heavens,  yet  deigned  to 
wake  his  Sleeping  duft — framed  him  fo  fearfully  in  the  womb — 
Buffed  him  on  a  tender  mother's  breast — watched  his  heiplefs  in- 
fancy— 


f     81     ) 

faticy-^guarded  his  heedlefs  youth — preferved  him  from  the  doT 
minion  of  his  paffions — infpired  him  with  the  love  of  virtue — led 
him  fafely  up  to  man — and,  from  inch  low  beginnings,  advanced 
him  to  fuchunparallellediiiefulnefs  and  glory  among  men  !  Thefej 
and  ten  thoufand  other  precious  gifts  heaped  on  him,  unaiked, 
inanv  of  them  long  before  he  had  the  knowledge  to  afk  for  them  ; 
overwhelmed  his  foul  with  gratitude  unutterable,  exalted  to  infi- 
nite heights,  his  ideas  of  eternal  love,  and  bade  him  without  fear,- 
to  reiign  his  departing  fpirit  into  the  arms  of  his  redeemer  God, 
whofe  mercies  are  overall  his  works. 

He  is  now  about  to  leave  the  great  family  of  man,  in  which 
he  has  fo  long  fojourned  as  a  brother  !  His  cheeks  are  bathed  with 
tears,  the  yearnings  of  his  foul  are  over  his  brethren  !  How  fer- 
vently does  he  adore  that  goodnetfi  which  enabled  him  to  be  fo 
ierviceable  to  them  !  That  grace,  which  preferved  him  from 
hurting  them  by  violence  or  by  fraud  !  How  fervently  does  he 
pray  that  the  uninjuring,  unsujfering  kingdom  of  God  may  comc^ 
and  that  the  Earth  may  be  filled  witrrtheVicheft  fruits  of  righte- 
oufnefs  and  of  peace. 

He  is  now  about  to  leave  bis  country!  that  dear  {pot  which 
gave  him  birth — that  dear  fpot  for  which  he  has  folong  watched 
and  prayed,  fo  long  toiled  and  fought;  and  whofe  beloved  chil- 
dren he  has  fo  often  fought  to  gather,  even  as  a  He'n  gathereth 
her  Chickens  under  her  wings.  He  fees  them  now  fpread  abroad 
like  flocks  in  goodly  pa  (lures  ;  like  favored  Ifrael  in  the  land  of 
promife.  He  remembers  how  God,  by  a  mighty  hand,  and  by  an, 
out-ftretched  arm,  brought  them  and  their  fathers  into  this  good 
land,  a  land  flowing  with  Milk  and  Honey  ;  and  bleffed  them 
with  the  bleffings  of  Heaven  above,  and  of  the  Earth  beneath  ; 
with  the  bleffings  of  LIBERTY  and  of  PEACE,  of  RELIGION  and  of 
LAWS,  above  all  other  people — He  fees,  that,  through  the  rich 
mercies  of  God,  they  have  now  the  precious  opportunity  to  make 
their  Country  the  GLORY  of  the  Earth,  the  blessed  among  nations^ 
and  a  refuge  for  the  poor  and  for  the  outcafts  of  all  lands  !  Thy 
tranfporting  fight  of  fuch  a  cloud  of  bleffings,  trembling  clofe  o- 
ver  the  heads  of  his  Countrymen,  together  with  the  diftreffina; 
uncertainty  whether  they  will  put  forth  their  hands  and  enjoy 
them,  lhakes  the  parent  foul  of  WASHINGTON  with  feelings  too 
Itrong  for  his  dying  frame.  The  laft  tear  that  he  is  ever  to  fhed, 
now  fteals  into  his  eye,  while  a  deep  groan  iflues  from  his  burft- 
ing  heart. 

Feeling  now,  that  the  filver  cord  of  life  is  loofing,  and  that  his 
fpirit  is  ready  to  quit  her  old  companion  the  body,  he  extend* 
himfelfon  his  bed,  clofes  his  eyes,  for  the  last  time,  with  his  owii 
bands,  folds  his  arms  decently  on  his  breaft,  then  breathing  out 

K  with 


with  his  laft  parting  breath,  "  Father  cf  Mercies !  Save  my 
Country — Comfort  the  broken-hearted  Partner  of  my  Soul  I  and 
take  me  to  thyself"  he  fell  afleep. 

May  that  God  whom  thou  fervedft,  O  WASHINGTON  !  hear 
the  voice  of  thy  prayer  1  May  thy  bleffings  in  death  prevail  for 
thy  country,  flill  above  the  blefoings  of  thy  life  ;  even  unto  the 
utmoft  bounds  of  the  everlafting  hills  may  they  defcend  on  Co- 
lumbia, and  on  the  lands  where  Wafhington  was  born  ! 

Loud  were  the  burfls  of  grief,  and  many  the  tears  that  were 
Ilied,  when  the  fall  of  Wafhington  was  known  ;  but  in  the  ear  of 
wifdovn  a  voice  was  heard  from  his  awful  {hade — u  Children  of 
Columbia,  "  weep  not  for  me .'"  My  ftrcaming  eyes  are  clofed  in 
death  ;  my  throbbing  heart  fliall  beat  no  more.  With  me,  the 
florins  of  life  are  past,  and  I  am  at  reft — But,  weep  for  yourselves." 

"  The  men  of  love  and  moderation  fail  in  your  land.  Wrath 
stiring  gazettes  are  in  full  circulation.  Jealoufies  and  hatreds 
prevail.  Difcontents  abound.  The  red  {'word  of  war  hangs 
fearfully  over  your  country ;  and  the  demons  of  pride  and  ambi- 
tion will  fa  on'  draw  it  down.  Then  fliall  your  enemies  rejoice 
to  fee  you  perifli  by  mutual  wounds,  and  fall  an  eafy  prey  into 
their  felfifli  and  cruel  fnares  I  Children  of  Columbia  !  Weep  not 
for  me,  weep  for  yourfelves.  O  that  you  were  wife  !  that  you 
did  but  fee,  even  in  this  your  day,  the  things  that  belong  to  your 
peace,  before  they  be  forever  hid  from  your  eyes"!  ! 

Here  on  angel 'wings,  the  brightening  faint  afcended.  Far  and 
•wide  the  air  was  filled  with  fragrance  ;  while  voices  more  than 
human  were  heard  warbling  through  the  happy  regions,  hymning 
the  great  poffeflion  towards  the  gates  of  Heaven.  His  glorious 
coming  was  feen  far  off;  and  myriads  of  mighty  angels  haftened 
forth,  with  golden  harps,  to  welcome  the  honoured  ftranger.  High 
in  front  of  the  fliouting  hofts  were  feen  the  beauteous  forms  of 
FRANKLIN,  WARREN,  MERCER,  SCAMMEL,  and  him  who  fell  at 
Quebec,  with  all  the  virtuous  patriots  who  on  the  fide  of  Colum- 
bia, toiled  or  bled  for  liberty  and  truth.  But,  O  !  how  changed 
from  what  they  were  when  in  their  days  of  flefh,  bathed  in  fweat 
and  blood,  they  fell  at  the  parent-feet  of  their  weeping  country! 
Not  the  homeliefl  infant  fuddenly  fpringing  into  a  foul-enchant- 
ing Hebe — Not  dreary  winter,  deformed  with  ice  and  fnows,  fud- 
denly brightening  into  fpring  with  all  her  bloom  and  fragrance, 
ravilhing'the  fenies,  could  equal  fuch  glorious  change.  O  where 
are  now  their  wrinkles  and  grey  hairs  ?  Where  their  ghaftly 
wounds  and  clotted  blood  ?  Their  forms  are  of  the  flature  of 
angels. — Their  robes  are  like  the  morning  cloucis  ftreaked  with 
waving.gold. — The  ftars  of  Heaven,  like  crowns  glitter  on  their 
heads. — Immortal  youth,  celestial  rofy  red,  fits  blooming  on  their 

cheeks  ; 


cheeks  ;  while  infinite  benignity  and  love'beam  from  their  eyes. 
Such  were  the  forms  of  thy  fons,  O  Columbia  1  fuch  the  brother 
band  of  thy  martyred  faints,  that  now  poured  forth  from  heaven's 
wide  opening  gates,  to  meet  thy  WASHINGTON;  to  mee't  their 
beloved  chief,  who,  in  the  days  of  his  mortality,  had  led  their 
embattled  fquadions  to  the  war.  At  the  fight  of  him,  even  thefe 
blessed  spirits  feem  to  feel  new  raptures  ;  and  to  look  more  daz- 
zlingly  bright.  In  joyous  throngs  they  pour  around  him  ;  they 
devour  him  with  their  eyes  of  love  ;  they  embrace  him  in  tranf- 
ports  of  tendernefs  unutterable  ;  while,  from  their  rofeate  cheeks, 
tears  of  joy,  fuch  as  Angels  weep,  roll  down. 

Oppreffed  with  exquifite  blifs  of  such  honours  paid  for  a  mo- 
ments virtue  on  earth,  he  turned  haftily  around ;  he  fought  once 
more  to  exhort  his  countrymen  to  virtue  ;  to  union  ;  and  to  love. 
But  it'  could  not  be —  this  dark  planet,  this  bedlam  of  the  uni- 
verfe  is  feen  no  more.  Millions  of  mighty  worlds  roll  between. 
In  silent  extacy  be  adores.  "  Happy  ioul,"  the  fhining  hoft  ex- 
claims, u  happy  foul,  this  is  but  the'  beginning  of  thy  joys." — 
Then  on  they  l$d  him  with  fliouts,  and  with  rapture-fvvelling 
ftrains  of  ten  thbufand  thoufand  harps,  to  the  throne  of  God ; 
whence,  from  a  cloud  of  gold,  fweeter  than  mufic,  the  almighty 
voice  was  heard,  u  Servant  of  God,  well  done  !  faithful  has  been 
thy  warfare  on  earth  !  for  the  sorrows  of  a  moment  receive  now  the 
joys  of  'eternity ." 

All  that  followed,  was  too  much  for  the  over-dazzled  eye  of 
imagination.  She  was  feen  to  return,  her  fnowy  bofom  quick 
panting,  and  with  the  difordered  looks  of  a  fond  mother  near 
fwooning,  at  fudden  fight  of  a  long  abfent  fon,  now  raifed  to 
kingly  honours.  She  was  heard  paflionately  to  utter,  with  palms 
and  eyes  lifted  to  Heaven. — u  0  who  can  count  the  stars  ofjacob^ 
or  number  the  fourth  part  of  the  bleflings  of  Israel?  O  let  me 
die  the  death  of  WASHINGTON,  and  let  my  latter  end  be  like 
his." 

Thou  great  and  honored  lady  I  who  fitteft  alone  and  darkling 
in  thy  houfe  of  mourning.  Suffer  me,  who,  in  common  with  ail 
America,  look  up  to  thee  with  filial  affeclion,  as  to  the  dear  last 
remaining  part  of  all  that  lives  of  our  WASHINGTON  on  the 
earth  ;  fuffer  me  to  entreat  thee  to  be  comforted.  What  eouldft 
thou  have  desired  for  thy  Wafhington,  of  riches,  honours,  and 
ufefulnefs  in  life,  of  peace  and  hope  in  death  ;  of  glory,  honour, 
and  immortality  in  heaven,  -which  God  has  not  heaped  on  him  ? 
What  could  heaven  and  earth,  what  could  God,  angels  and  men 
have  done  more  for  him  than  has  been  done?  fince  God  has  giv- 
en ihee  much,  for  thy  beloved — he  requires  much,  even  the  ac- 
ceptable facrifice  of  thy  gratitude  and  refignation. 

But 


But" that  infinite  wifdom  forbids,  foon  would  thy  Wafliingtaa, 
at%theTolemn  midnight  hour,  glide  into  thy  chamber  like  one  of 
thofe  flaming  fpirits  which  watch,  unfeen,  the  (lumbers  of  the 
juft.  Soon  would  he  draw  afide  thy  curtain,  and  looking  on  thee 
as  pitying  angels  look  on  weeping  faints,  would  fay — u  O  Mar- 
tha! O  my  beloved  friend  I  why  doft  thou  mourn  for  me  ?  In  the 
days  of  my  trial  I  Was  faithful  to  Heaven,  to  love,  and  to  thee  j 
and  I  am  happy,  happy  beyond  all  that  thou  canft  think  or  afk. 
God  has  taken  me  away  forever  from  the  evils  of  life,  from  the 
evils  of  fad-declining  age,  and  the  ftill  greater  evils,  of  feeing 
thine  or  my  country's  woes.  God  has  wiped  all  tears  from  mine 
eyes ;  wouldft  thou,  with  cruel  kindnefs,  bring  me  back  to  this 
valley  of  tears  ?  I  breathe  in  regions  of  eternal  light  and  ///>, 
wouldft  thou  recall  me  to  this  land  of  darknefs  and  of  death? 
Oh!  my  beloved  friend!  my  Martha!  my  wife!  Exalt  thy 
thoughts  to  eternity,  and  finifli  with  joy,  that  fliort  tafk  of  duty, 
that  now  remains  to  thee.  Yet  a  little  while,  and  we  {hall  meet 
again  ;  we  fliall  meet  to  renew  that  love  that  {hall  never  know  an 
end,  and  to  celebrate  thofe  nuptials  which  fliall  laft  forever." 

Blefled  above  women!  Thou  waft,  for  forty  years,  the  loving 
and  beloved  companion  of  our  WauYington.  Even  in  the  largeft 
company,  thy  converfe,  often  fondly  fnatched,  was  ftill  the  moft 
endearing  to  him,  and  a  feat  by  thy  iide  the  moft  delightful.  His 
children  will  not  fuffer  their  father's  fide  to  be  widowed.  Soon 
as  thy  days  are  numbered,  with  pious  hands,  they  will  place  thee 
by  his  lide.  Then  will  the  tears  of  millions  flow.  Yes,  Dear 
honoured  pair  !  The  tears  of  your  countlefs  children  fliall  water 
your  tomb.  The  gorgeous  monument,  with  time-defying  gran- 
deur, fliall  arife,  fpeaking  Columbia's  gratitude  ;  and  the  eyes  of 
generations,  yet  unborn,  fliall  read  of  your  deeds,  your  VIRTUES, 
and  your  LOVE — They  fliall  read,  while  the  tender  forrow  rolls 
down  their  penfive  cheeks, 

Here  lie,  interred,  all  that  could  die 

of 
GEORGE    WASHINGTON, 

and 

MARTHA,  his  Wife. 
They  were  lovely  in  Life,  and  in  Death, 

They  were  not  divided, 
Heirs  of  Immortality  !  Rejoice — For  their  Virtues, 

their  Honours,  maybe  yours. 
"  Honor  and  fliame  from  no  condition  rife, 
a  A61  well  your  part,  there  all  the  honour  lies. 


FINIS. 


WASHINGTONIANA: 

A 

COLLECTION  OF   PAPERS 

RELATIVE  TO  THE 

DEATH  AND  CHARACTER 

OF 

General  George  Washington^ 

WITH   A   CORRECT   COPY   OF   HIS 

Laft  Will  and  Teftament; 

TO    WHICH    ARE    ADDED 

His  Legacy  to  the  People  of  America^ 
&c.  &c.  &c. 


TO    RECORD    THE    ACTIONS'  OF    THE    DEAD    FOR    THE 
FIT    OF    THE    LIVING. 


FROM  THE  BLANDFORD  PRESS, 

AND 

nr  ROSS  &  DOUGLAS,   PETERSBURG R>    AND  ET 

BOOKSELLERS    IN    VIRGINIA. 


t, 
e\ 
v: 

Wi 

O 
ci 

t' 


TO 

THE    CITIZENS 

OF    THE 

COMMONWEALTH  OF  VIRGINIA, 
The  Country  of  Washington, 

THIS 

COLLECTION 

is 

RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED 


(zdtioro* 
; 


ODE. 

HOW  happy  he,  who  finks  to  reft, 
By  all  regretted,  lov'd,  and  bleft ! — 
For  him  th'  affli&ed  melts  in  woe, 
For  him  the  widow's  tears  ihall  flow  ; 
For  him  the  orphan's  pray'rs  mail  rife, 
And  waft  his  fpirit  to  the  fkies ! 
To  deck  his  grave,  fhall  Virtue  bring 
Th'  earlieft  tribute  of  the  fpring; 
And  Friendmip,  weeping,  ihall  repair 
To  plant  her  mournful  cyprefs  there ; 
V/hilft  in  our  hearts  we'll  raife  a  tomb, 
Round  which  immortal  wreaths  fhall  bloom! 

Then  let  FUATERNAL  Love  attune  the  lyre, 
And  fnatch  a  ray  of  Genius'  facred  fire ; 
Whilft  the  fad  ftrain,  in  foft  and  folemn  lays, 
Dwells  on  his  merit,  and  records  his  praife ; 
Let  the  full  chord  to  yon  blue  ajrch  arife, 
«'  Our  WASHINGTON'S  tranflated  to  the  fkies !" 


PREFACE. 


J[T  having  been  fuggefted  to  the  Editors,  to  print 
an  Edition  of  General  WASHINGTON'S  Will,  it 
occurred  to  them,  that  to  accompany  it  with  cer- 
tain papers  in  the  form  of  a  journal,  or  narrative, 
of  the  various  circumftances  attending  the  death, 
and  illuftrative  of  the  character  of,  that  celebrated 
Perfonage,  would  make  the  publication  more  ac- 
ceptable, certainly  much  more  ufeful  to  his  country- 
men. 

Accordingly  they  here  refpedfully  prefent  to 
the  Public,  a  fmall  Collection,  which,  altho'  too 
haftily  executed,  they  hope,  appears  in  fuch  a  fhape 
as  may  be  thought  not  unworthy  of  prefervation  in 
the  Book-cafe  or  the  Library,  for  the  purpofe  of 
pccafionally  referring  to,  either  as  a  Remembran- 
cer, or  an  Inftruftor. 

But,  as  they  advanced  in  the  work,  they  per- 
ceived the  magnitude  of  the  undertaking  —  This, 
therefore,  is  only  a  fpecimen  of  what  they  think 
fliould  be  executed  on  a  larger  fcale. — The  mate- 
rials are  abundant,  but  they  want  feledion  and  ar- 
rangement —  Every  thing  performed,  or  written, 
^WASHINGTON,  is  eftimable,  and  ought  to  be 

pre- 


r  vi  3 

preferved  i  whilft  every  thing  faid  o/him,  however 
well  meant,  is  not,  it  muft  be  confefled,  of  equal 
importance.  *  —  From  the  heterogeneous  mafs,  a 
bold,  a  difcrlminating,  and  an  impartial  hand  might 
produce  a  volume  of  the  moft  interefting  nature — 
it  would  be  a  rich  and  valuable  difplay  of  fmgular 
virtue  on  one  fide,  and  of  univerfal  veneration  on 
the  other. 

Such  a  compilation  would  contradicl  the  dogmas 
of  certain  Churchmen,  "  that  all  men  by  nature 
are  corrupt"  —  It  would  do  more  ;  it  would  falfify 
the  injurious  aflertion  of  certain  European  States- 
men, "  that  there  is  neither  Republican  virtue,  nor 
Republican  gratitude !" 

If  General  WASHINGTON  had  never  written 
any  thing  elfe  than  his  Will,  that,  alone,  muft  have 
raifed  him  high  in  the  eftimation  of  his  Country. — • 
Divefted  of  technical  terms,  and  profeflional  forms, 
in  this  interefting  inftrument,  he  bequeaths  his  large 
property,  in  a  variety  of  items,  with  all  the  pre- 
cifion  of  a  profound  Civilian,  clothed  in  the  lan- 
guage of  an  accomplifhed  Scholar — And,  his  pro- 
vifion  for  the  future  inftruction  of  the  youth  of  A- 
merica,  whiift  it  demonftrates  the  goodnefs  of  his 
heart,  proves  the  fmcerity  of  his'patriotifm. — If 
any  of  his  countrymen  ever  fufjfedted,  or  affected 
to  fufpeft,  the  purity  of  his  motives,  let  them  read 

his 

*  Wafliington,  like  every  other  great,  or  fortunate  man,  had  his 
flatterers — And  it  is  obfervable,  that  forae  of  his  moft  unqualified  Eu\ 
logists  latterly,  were,  formerly,  enemies  both  to  him  &nd  his  caufe* 


E    /"  r 

his  Will,  and  they  will  be  convinced  of  their  mif* 
take,  or  afhamed  of  their  fufpicion. 

To  render  this  Collection  ftili  more  ufeful  and 
important,  the  Editors  have  added  PrefidentW  AS  H- 
INGTON'S  Farewell  Addrefs  on  his  retiring  from 
all  public  employments  —  This  may  emphatically 
be  called  "  The  Father's  Legacy  to  his  Children,'" 
never,  it  is  hoped,  to  be  forgotten  or  contemned  by 
the  fons  of  Columbia.  —  Let  it  be  written  in  cha- 
racters of  gold,  and  hung  up  in  every  houfe  ;  let 
it  be  engraven  upon  tables  of  brafs  and  marble, 
and,  like  the  facred  Law  of  Mofes,  be  placed  in 
every  Church,  and  Hall,  and  Senate  Chamber  of 
this  fpacious  Continent,  for  the  inftrucYion  not 
only  of  the  prefent,  but  of  all  future  generations 
of  Americans. 

To  this  truly  interefting  Paper—every  line  of 
which  contains  a  ufeful  precept,  or  an  imp3rtant 
truth — we  have  prefumed  to  add  a  few  Notes — but 
its  belt  commentary,  its  moft  ufeful  expofition,  will 
be  the  Hiftory  of  England,  that  rich  and  inexhauft- 
ible  mine  of  amufement  and  inftrucYion.  * 

The 

From  a  clofe  and  impartial  examination  of  the  hiftory,  the  laws, 
and  the  conftitution  of  that  wbnderful  Nation,  ahnoft  every  thing  nc- 
ceffary  to  human  knowledge  may  be  obtained.  And  many  obvious 
teafons  point  out  the  neceffity  of  both  the  Governors  and  the  People 
of  thefe  States  keeping  a  watchful  eye  upon  the  motions  of  that  pow- 
erful and  ambitious  Government,!  whether  it  be  to  avoid  her  political 
vices,  .or  to  imitate  her  national  virtues.  It 

t  As  Vanity  is  the  fault  of  individuals,  ambition  is  the  vice  of  na- 
tions.— Greece  made  conquers  in  Afia,  and  Rome  fubdued  the  world 
—We  ourfelves  have  feen  republican  France,  forgetting  juftice  and  her 
wn principle,  ravaging  and  bartering  the  neighbouring  nations;  ?xjd 

Eng- 


t  vin  ] 

The  Preacher  hath  faid,  "  that  in  every  thing 
there  is  a  moral" — Here,  in  the  death  of  this  great 
and  fortunate  Man,  there  is  a  linking  one — It  fhews 
that  neither  riches,  nor  rank,  nor  fame,  can  fave 
from  the  grave,  to  which  we  are  all  haftening — but 
it  aifo  fhcws,  how  much  virtue,  and  the  recollec- 
tions of  a  weil-fpent  life,  can  afluage  the  pangs  of 
difeafe,  and  fweeten  the  bitternefs  of  death.  It  is 
'true,  we  cannot  all  be  commanders  of  armies,  or 
rulers  of  nations  ;  but  every  man,  by  induftry,  eco- 
nomy, and  integrity,  can  be  a  ufeful  member  of 
fociety — every  man,  by  the  exercife  of  thefe  vir- 
tues, can  be  a  Wajhington  in  his  own  circle. 

And 

It  cannot,  therefore,  be  thought  improper  to  advife  the  American 

reader  to  be  cautious  of  the  Hiftorian  he  takes  up  for  perufal It 

unfortunately  happens,  that  what  is  ufually  called  the  beft  Hiftory  of 
England,  was  written  by  an  avowed  Tory  and  a  profefied  enemy  to 
Revelation ! — The  inquifitive  reader  will,  in  general,  find  the  truth  to 
be  between  Hume  the  Monarchist  and  Macaulay  the  Republican.  Both 
books  are  neceflary ;  the  one  for  purity  of  ftyle,  the  other  for  a  ilate^ 
irent  of  fa&s. — The  temperate  Clarendon  on  one  fide,  and  the  Whig 
Bilhop  (a  fcarce  article  among  Churchmen)  Eurnet,  on  the  other, 
fhould  both  be  confulted. — Rapin,  a  Frenchman,  as  far  as  he  comes,  is 
a  refpe<5lable  authority. — Smollet,  a  Scotchman,  including  the  reign  of 
George  II.  relates  many  intercfting  occurrences  in  bold  and  nervou.i 
language. — And,  for  the  eventful  reign  of  George  III.  Betfham,  as 
jret,  ftands  at  the  head  of  a  long  lift  of  Writers. 

There  are  many  other  Engiifh  Hiftorians,  but  the  above,  according 

to  our  prefent  recolkaion,  are  the  moft  effential. 'Henry's  Hiftory 

of  Great  Britain,  and  Neal's  Hiftory  of  the  Puritans,  are  both  necef- 
fary  books  for  the  Library — the  firft  gives  an  amufing  account  of  an- 
cient Engiifh  and  Scotch  manneib — the  fecond  will  give  the  people  of 
this  country  an  idea  of  that  hatefi;!  thing,  Church  perfecution. 

England,  under  the  pretext  of  commerce,  wHhes  to  fubje&  both  Afia 
and  America  to  her  dominion Thefe  are  all  leffbns  to  this  govern- 
ment and  people One  party  in  this  country  withes  that  France  was 

overwhelmed ;  another,  that  England  was  annihilated — Miftaken,  un- 
thinking men ! — The  fafety  of  thefe  jarring  States  lyes  in  having  the 
two  rival  nations  fo  equally  balanced,  that  neither  ftiall  predominate. 


I    ix    ] 

And  ye,  VIRGINIANS,  who  juftly  boaft  that 
WASHINGTON  is  your  Countryman— whether  ye 
be  legiflators  of  the  people,  fathers  of  children,  or 
mailers  of  fervants — obey  his  precepts,  follow  his 
example,  and  behold  by  what  means  he  attained 
the  fummit  of  Fame  and  Fortune.  And,  if  the 
folemn  warning  of  an  ancient  Philofopher  be  ne- 
ceflary  as  a  ftimulus,  liften  to  one  who  felt  and  la- 
mented the  fatal  effects  of  vice,  licentioumefs,  and 
anarchy ;  who,  when  he  faw  the  Roman  Republic 
become  the  prey  of  craft  and  ambition,  cried,  "  I 
"  now  perceive,  that  a  people  without  virtue  may 
"  attain  Liberty,  but,  without  virtue,  they  cannot 

/*  /*  •      «•       * 

*'  preferve  it, ' 


!n 


• 


rr    SKETCH 

HUMBLY  OFFERED  BY  WAY  OF 

INTRODUCTION. 

GrEORGE  WASHINGTON,  we  are  informed,  was 
born  on  the  22d  of  February  1732,  in  Stafford  County  ia 
the  State  of  Virginia,  and  was  the  third  fon  of  Auguftus 
Wafh'mgton ;  he  was  the  fecond  fon  of  a  fecond  marriage. 
— It  does  not  appear  that  his  education  was  either  clafll- 
cal  or  very  extenfive ;  a  knowledge  of  the  Engfifli  lan- 
guage, with  a  portion  of  Geography  and  the  Mathema- 
tics, feem  to  have  been  the  whole  of  his  juvenile  improve- 
ments. Altho'  his  grammatical  inftru&ions  could  not  b£ 
very  accurate,  he,  notwithflanding,  attained,  by  dint  of 
flu<ty  and  obfervation,  a  proficiency  in  the  writing  of 
Engltfh,  fmocth,  uniform,  and  even  elegant,  that  has 
extorted  the  approbation  of  the  moft  faftidious  Critics.— 
And  he  is  an  eminent  proof,  that  a  man  may  become  an 
able  Genera!  *  without  having  read  Cefar  in  the  original, 
and  a  profound1  Politician  without  having  flodied  either  the 
Greek  or  Roman  Authors.  After 

*  It  Is  related  as  an  interefting  fa&,  derived  from  refpeftable  au- 
thority, f  that  when  only  15  years  of  age,  he  difcovered  fo  ftrong  a 
propenfity  to  a  martial  life,  that  his  father  had  refolved  to  place  him 
in  the  naval  fervice  of  England;  but  that,  at  the  earneft  entreaties  of 

his  mother,  this  dellination  was  relinquiftied. If  this  intention  hud 

been  fulfilled,  it  is  probable,  that  Wafhington  would  have  fought  a- 
gainst  America,  not  for  her. And  we  may  exercife  our  imagina- 
tion in  conje&uring,  what  would  have  been  the  iffue  of  the  American 

war  in  fuch  a  cafe  ? But  no  doubts  will  be  entertained  on  this  fub- 

jecl,  if  we  give  a  believing  ear  to  the  high-flown  rhapfodires  of  certain 
Eulogists,  who  feem  determined  "  to  praife  without  meafure,  and 
without  bounds !"  When 

•}•    See  Major  JackJfon's  Eulogiwm, 


After  having  o.btained  fuch  an  education  as  his  oppor- 
tunities afforded,  Mr.  Wafhington,  it  is  faid,  aaually  com- 
menced his  career  in  life  by  becoming  a  Surveyor,  in  which 
profeflion  he  was  noted  for  his  induftry,  regularity,  and 
integrity. — By  a  fleady  adherence  to  thefe  wife  maxims  in 
all  the  occupations  of  his  life,  by  regular  degrees,  he  ex- 
alted himfelf  to  the  higheft  pinnacle  of  Fame. 

In  -the  year  I  753,  Mr.  Washington  was  called  into  a 
new  and  hazardous  employment.— The  French  and  Indi- 
ans making  dreadful  depredations  upon  the  weftern  fron* 
tiers,  Governor  Dinwiddie,  cbferving  his  fpirited  but  fa- 
gacious  deportment,  appointed  him  to  open  a  negociation 
of  peace  with  the  French  General.  After  a  dangerous 
and  fatiguing  journey,  he  executed  his  commiflion  with  fo 
much  fidelity  and  judgement,  that  he  received  the  unani- 
mous thanks  of  the  Governor  and  Council  for  his  able  and 
judicious  conduct. 

But  the  French,  notwithstanding  their  profeflions  of 
peace,  continued  their  encroachments — It  was  then  thought 
neceflary  to  prepare  for  war  ;  Mr.  Wafhington  was  ap- 
pointed a  Major  in  the  Virginian  forces,  and  he  was  foon 
after  placed  ajt  the  head  of  a  regiment  of  aboui  400  men.' 
With  this  fnaall  body,  he  maintained  a  brave  but  unequal 
conflict  with  an  enemy  three  times  his  number,  till,  at 
length,  at  a  place  called  the  Little  Meadow,  after  fuftainr 
ing  many  fierce  attacks,  and  killing,  above  200  of  his  af- 
failants,  he  furrendered  to  the  Count  de  Villars,  who  ap- 
pjauded  his  gallantry,  and  allowed  him  to  retire  with  all 
the  honours  of  war.  In 

When  all  our  Christian  prejudices  are  completely  fubdued,  when 
the  reign  of  Theocracy  (Mr.  Gibbon's  elegant  Mythology  !)  fhall  re- 
turn,  and  th^tt  the  Americans  fhall  have  erected  THEIR  Pantheon,  we 

Jcnow   no  man  fo  defending  a  ftatue  as  Wafhington Stich   is  our 

opinion  of  him,  that  we  would  put  him  in  the  fcale  againft  a  legigjj 
$/  Kings  and  Emperors,  either  ancient  or  modern  J  » 


*« 

In  I755>  Col.Wafhington  was  fummoned  to  accom- 
pany Gen.  Braddock  in  his  military  progrefs  by  the  \\a-y 
of  Will's  Creek  to  Fort  du  Quefne  (now  Pittfburgh).— 
The  haughty  General  defpjfed  the  cautious  councils  of 
the  American  foldier,  *  and,  on  the  fatal  9th  of  July,  he 
fell  into  an  ambufh  laid  for  him  by  the  French  and  Indi- 
ans— Every  reader  knows  the  calamitous  effe&s  of  Brad* 
dock's  obflinacy;  and  that  Washington,  with  his  brave 
Virginians,  faved  the  remains  of  the  Britifh  army  from 
biflant  death  or  a  cruel  captivity. 

|n  1759,  Col.Wafhington  reiigned  his  military  em- 
ployments, and  entered  into  the  marriage  (late  f  with  the 
widow  of  Mr.  Curtis,  with  whom  he  obtained  a  very  con* 
ftderable  eftate.  —  He  was  now  called  to  the  Aflembly, 
where  he  ferved  his  country  in  a  civil  capacity. 

In- the  year  1775,  began  that  ever  memorable  conteft, 
which  feparated  the  then  Colonies  from  the  Mother 
Cqpntty,  and  in  which  Gen.  Wafliington  acted  fo  confpi- 
cuous*  a  part— The  interefting  particulars  of  this  feven 

years 

*  Gen.  Braddock  held  the  American  officers  and  foldiers  in  great 
contempt ;  and  when  Col.  Wafhington  refpeflfully  fuggefted  the  ne- 
,  c«ffity  of  caution  in  the  prefence  of  a  crafty  and  fanguinary  enemy, 
"  High  times  (he  indignantly  cried)  high  times,  by  G — d,  when  3 
"  young  Buckfldn  prefumes  to  teach  a  Britim  General !" — The  almoft 
inftant  death  of  this  Britifli  General  and  about  1200  of  his  men,  was 
the  confequence  of  his  pride  and  temerity. 

f  Wafliington  had  no  children — If  he  had,  may  we  hazard  a  con- 
je&ure,  or  a  queflion,  by  afking,  If  it  had  been  othenvife,  whether  he 
\vould  have  fhewn  the  fame  difintereftednefs  in  all  his  political  a&ions, 

and  what  might  not  a  favourite  fon  have  biafed  him  to  do  ? Let  us 

think  of  the  fond  and  partial  afleaions  of  a  father — let  us  confider 
human  nature— and  let  us  look  at  the  hiftory  of  the  world — Or,  what 
might  not  the  enthufiaftic  admiration  of  the  American  people,  prompt- 
ed by  fa&ious  and  defigning  men,  at  certain  feafous,  have  grantee!  to 

the  fon  of  their  favourite  General  ? Let  us  pioufly  believe,  that  the 

Supreme  Difpofer  of  all  things  has  ordered  cv§ii  this  circuinilance  fb? 
fye  general  good* 


t 


years'  hiflory  are  known,  or  ought  to  be  known,  by  every 
American  Citizen.,  and  need  not  be  here  repeated  —  Walh- 
ington  has  been  juftly  compared  totheRomanFabius;  but, 
his  bold  and  fuccefsful  enterprise  at  Trenton,  which  form- 
ed the  crifis  of  the  war,  and  eventually  fealed  the  Inde- 
pendence of  America,  fliewed,  that,  when  occafion  offered, 
he  could  act  with  the  promptitude  and  firmnefs  of  Camil- 
Jus  —  The  capture  of  Lord  Cornwallis  and  his  army,  which 
was  effected  with  great  fkill  and  addrefs,  eftabliftied  his 
military  fam,e,  and  put  a  period  to  the  conteft. 

At  the  conclufion  of  the  war,  Gen.  Walhington  ^ave 
to  the  admiring  world  a  g'orious  example  of  virtue  and 
felf  denial,  by  refigning  his  military  command  into  the 
hands  of  Congrefs,  which  then  fat  at  Annapolis.  *«—  Dif- 
daining  the  abufe  of  power,  and  actuated  by  the  principles 
of  true  honour,  he  did  not  create  himfell  a  £rote£^»r,  a- 
Dictator,  or  a  Conful,  but,  dutifully  bowing  to  the  legal 
authority  of  his  Country,  he  once  more  became  a  prh^rte; 
Citizen,  and  betook  himfelf  to  the  peaceful  fhaderof  a 
virtuous  retirement. 

When  the  firft  form  of  general  government  that  had 
been  adopted  for  thefe  States,  was  found  to  be  weak  and 
ineffectual,  George  Wafhington  again  came  forward  at 
the  call  of  his  Fellow  Citizens,  arvd  \v«s  one  of  thofe  men 
who  contrived  and  carried  into  execution  that  fyftem  of 
Union  and  Power,  which  has  fince  proved  fo  beneficial, 
and  over  which  he  was  twice  unanimoufly  elected  to  pre- 
fide—  But  the  various  circumftances  which  have  marked 
his  Presidency,  are  too  recent  and  too  well  known  to  re- 
quire any  notice  dr  comment  in  this  brief  Abitract, 

In 

*  It  is  much  to  be  regretted,  that  no  Painter  ever  forced  and 
executed  tlie  defign  of  perpetuating  this  truly  interefting  fcene  —  a 
fceue  vaftly  more  important  than  many,  ev  all  of  them,  tlt^t  have  lately 
beer,  puffed  off  upon  the  public, 


In  no  one  thing  has  the  world  been  fo  much  deceived, 
as  in  the  article  of  what  is  commonly  called  Great  Men— 
Almoft  all  of  them,  upon  a  nearer  and  clofer  examination, 
have  been  found  to  be,  either  great  knaves  or  great  rob- 
bers!— Not  fo  the  Man  whofe  character  we  are  now  at- 
tempting to  delineate— -Whether  in  public  or  in  private, 
HE  was  (till  the  fame ;  and  in  that  humble,  but  ufeful  and 
honourable  employment,  a  FARMER,  he  pointed  the  way 
to  Fortune,vas,  in  his  public  capacities,  he  had  pointed  the 
•way  to  Fame  ;  eminently  proving,  in  his  own  pei  fon,  the 
difference  between  a  fyftcm  of  induftry,  economy,  and  me- 
thod, and  a  courfe  of  gambling,  diflipation,  and  licenti- 
pufnefs, 

By  his  regular  and  economical  conduct,  Mr.  Wafhing- 
tc«  became  the  mod  extenfive  and  opulent  Farmer  on  the 
continent.  He  had  about  9000  acres  of  land  attached  to 
his  feat  of  Mount  Vernon,  where  he  combined  theory 
with  pra&ice,  and,  by  fucceflive  improvements,  rendered 
his  grounds  highly  productive  ;  he  is  faid  to  have  raifed  in 
one  year,  8000  buftiels  of  wheat,  and  10,000  buftiels  of 
corn,  Including  his  houfehold  fervants,  and  thofe  who 
worked  upon  the  farm,  he  daily  maintained  about  IOQO 
perfons,  all  of  \vhom  moved  and  acted  according  to  the 
rules  of  a  ftrict  but  beneficent  fyftem — Like  a  well  regu- 
lated clock,  the  whole  machine  moved  in  perfect  time  and 
order— The  effects  were,  that  he  was  completely  inde- 
pendent, and  died  pofiefied  of  a  property  worth  afyove  a. 
million  of  dollars. 

With  a  tali  majeftic  perfon,  and  a  manly  countenance, 
he  had  a  flrong  but  well  governed  mind — His  perceptions 
were  not  quick,  but,  when  once  he  did  take  a  pofition,  it 
tvas  generally  well  chofen,  and  firmly  adhered  to — Nei- 
ther wit  nor  vivacity  brightened  his  features ;  it  vras  a 
face  of  care,  of  thought,  and  of  caution  ;  all  was  calmnefs 

and 


f     *v     I 

and  deliberation — Wafhington's  great  forte  was  priidence, 
or  difcretion ;  it  covered  him  like  a  fhield  in  the  ,hour  of 
danger,  and  it  was  his  fure  guide  in  the  day  of*  profperity  - 
by  this  fingle  talent,  he  acquired  all  his  wealth,  and  obtained 
all  his  celebrity.— Whilft  he  fulfilled  all  the  relative  du- 
ties, he  was  obedient  to  every  temperate  rule  and  every 
moral  principle ;  and  knowing  its  vaft  importance  both  to 
individual  and  national  happinefs,  he  paid  a  proper  refpect 
to  all  the  obfervances  of  Religion. 

Shall  we  conclude  this  Sketch  by  faying,  that  Wafh- 
ington  was  an  all-perfect  character? — No— Perfection  is 
not  the  lot  of  human  nature,  or  of  any  created  thing — 
Even  the  Sun  has  his  fpots — But  who  fhall  now,  with 
peevifh  and  uncharitable  fcrupulofity,  endeavour  to  fearch 
for  faults  in  a  picture,  where  the  beauties  fo  far  out-num- 
ber the  blemifhes  ?  And  how  (hall  WE  judge  of  his  weak- 
nefles,  when  thofe  who  were  neareft  to  his  perfon,  were 
at  a  lofs  hew  to  diftinguifh  them  ?  — -Has  he  been  ac- 
cufed  of  parfimony? — It  was  economy,  that  neceflary 
quality  to  every  man,  by  which  he  obtained  that  greatd! 
of  all  earthly  bleflings,  independency  —  he  dki  not,  like 
Cefar,  attain  the  fummit  of  power  by  a  profufe  and  artful 
diftribution  of  his  own  and  tys  countryrs  treafure,  to  catch 
the  popular  applaufe,  and  then  feat  himfelf  in  the  Dicta- 
tor's chair.- Was  he  proud  ?— -His  pride  was  a  necef- 

fary  dignity  of  foul,  that  fet  him  above  little  things  and 

mean  actions,  and  kept  even  fycophants  at  a  diftance. 

But,  the  Britifh  Treaty,  that  worfe  than  Pandora's  Box 
to  America  ? — When  the  beft  friends  of  America  are  di- 
vided in  opinion,  and  when  the  ablcft  politicians  cannot  de- 
cide, the  queftion  muft  be  left  to  the  experience  of  Pof- 
terity,  who,  when  Prejudice  or  Partiality  fhall  no  longer 
bliod  or  miflead,  will  pronounce  a  true  judgement— -  1 
"  When  Faaion  is  mute,  Juftice  fhall  hold  the  fcales." 


*&   POST-SCRIP?. 

Metfiinks  I  hear  the  Critics  at  the  foot  of  the  CapitO- 
Une  Mount  fuperciHoufly  exclaim  —  "  Ha  !  Mr.  Printer, 
how  did  you  contrive  to  prefs  the  Ana  into  your  fervice  in 
the  little  provincial  town  of  Peter(burgh? — Aft  you  go- 
ing to  turn  dauber  atfo?" 

Gentlemen,  be  pleafed  to  lifien  to  a  few  words  by 
way  of  explanation  — /Fair  words,  Citizens;  and  if  you 
don't  like  our  picture,  you  need  not  buy  it. 

Ana  is  a  Latin  termination,  frequently  adapted  in  the 
titles  of  books—- Am,  or  Books  in  Ana,  are  collections  of 
fnemcrabie  fayjngs,  or  valuable  writings,  of  perfons  of 
wit  or  learning  in  different  countries  and  different  ages—- 
Thus, the  Greeks  had  their  Socratianay  the  Italians  their 
Scatigeriaria,  the  Germans  their  Lielnitziana,  the  French 
their  VoHarlana^  and  the  Englffh  their  Jofaforiiana,  and,  at 
this  moment,  their  Plndariana — Why  then  may  not  the 
Americans  have  their  Wafiingtoniana  ?* — Wafhington  was 
not  indeed  a  man  of  wit — "  a  Wit's  a  feather,  and  a  Chief  ?a 
a  rod"  (you'll  find  the  reft  of  it  in  the  book) — luckily  for 
his  countrymen — if  his  countrymen  will  have  the  wit  to 
make  a  good  life  of  the  example— he  was  a  man  of  virtue. 

• In  HIM,  the  new  triumphantly  challenges  the  old 

world  for  a  parallel  f  — —  He  did  not  pafs  the  Rubicon 
and  enfiave  his  country,  like  Cefar — he  did  not  abjure  hi* 
religion  to  obtain  a  .kingdom,  like  Henry  the  Fourth— 
neither  ambitious  nor  hypocritical,  he  did  not  overturn  a 
rifmg  Republic,  [ike  Cromwell— nor  did  he  create  himfelf 
a  Dictator  for  ten  years,  like  Buonaparte.  V. 

*  The  doings,  and  Takings,  and  writings  of  Dr,Franklin — a  genius 
of  another  caft^-are,  perhaps,  more  exa&ly  fuited  to  the  Aria.—ln  fu- 
tute  times,  the  reputation  of  this  wonderful  man  will  ftand  high  with 
the  -vvnole  civilized  world,  if  the  world  does  not  take  a  retrograde  mo- 
ttoni,  _  Fortunate  America!  to  have  two  fuch  great  Men  to  guide 
and  .inftruft  you  in  your  political  infancy — Criminal  America!  if  you 
forget  or  contemn  the  Ihining  lights  of  two  fnch  brilliant  luminaries. 

f    See  the  excellent  Addrefs  of  the  Senate  to  the  Prefident,  p.  16. 

\ 


Collectanea    Wq/hmgtontana ; 

O  R, 

PAPERS 

RELATIVE  TO  THE  DEATH  OF 

tr  aatiMia 


ALEXANDRIA,  Dec.  16",  1800. 

IT  is  our  painful  duty  Erft  to  announce  to  our  country, 
and  to  the  world,  >the  death  of  General  GEORGE? 
WASHINGTON. — This  mournful  event  occured  laft  Sa- 
turday evening  about  1 1  o'clock  ;  he  died  after  a  fevere 
illnefs  of  only  23  hours. — The  diforder  which  caufed  his 
death  is  called  by  fome  the  Croupe,  by  others  an  inflam-* 
matory  Quinfey,  a  difeafe  lately  fo  mortal  among  children 
in  this  place,  and,  I  believe,  not  until  this  year  known  to 
attack  perfons  in  the  years  of  maturity. 

PHILADELPHIA,  Dec.  19. 

On  Saturday  the  i4th  inft.  died  at  his  feat  in  Virginia, 
General  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  Commander  in  Chief 
of  the  Armies*  and  late  Prefident  of  the  Congrefs,  of  the 
United  States  of  America — mature  in  years,  covered  with 
glory,  and  rich  in  the  aflTe&ions  of  a  free  people  and  the 
admiration,  of  the  whole  civilized  world. 


2  COLLECTANEA 

When  men  of  common  chara&er  are  fwept  from  the 
theatre  of  life,  they  die  without  the  tribute  of  public  con- 
cern, as  they  had  lived  without  a  claim  to  public  efteem— 
But,  when  Perfonages  of  great  and  exalted  worth  are  fum- 
mpned  from  this  fublurary  fcene,  their  death  calls  forth  a 
burft  of  general  regret,  and  invigorates  the  flame  of  public 
gratitude. — In  obedience,  therefore,  to  the  united  voice  of 
their  Country,  the  Poet,  the  Orator,  and  the  Uiftorian, 
\vill  combine  to  do  juftice  to  the  character  of  this  illuftri- 
ous  PATRIOT  ;  whihl:  tfie  ingenious  labours  of  the  Sculp- 
tor, the  Statuary,  and  the  Painter,  will  unite  in  perpetu- 
ating the  virtues  of  THE  MAN  OF  THE  AGE. 

Mourn,  COLUMBIA,  mourn! — Thy  Father  and  Pro- 
tector kno  more  !— Mourn,  Reader,  of  whatever  kindred, 
tongue,  or  clime  thou  be,  tJiy  Friend,  the  Friend  of  Man 
and  of  Liberty,  is  gone  ! — The  Hero,  the  Sage,  the  Patri- 
ot, this  glorious  emanation  of  the  Deity,  is  carried  back  to 
the  bofom  of  his  God! — The  recording  Angel  has  enre- 
giftered  his  virtuous  deeds  in  Heaven,  and  the  name  of 
WASHINGTON  will  live  for  ever  ! 

From  Vernonrs  Mount,  behold,  the  fievo  rifeT 
Refplendent  Forms  attend  him  thro'  the  Ikies ! 
The  (hades  of  war-worn  Veterans  round  him  throng-, 
And  lead,  emvrapt,  their  honour'd  Chief  along ! 
A  laurel  wreath  th'  immortal  WARREN  bears, 
An  arch  triumphal  MERCER'S  hand  prepares;. 
Voung  LAURENCE,  et&  th'  avenging  bolt  of  war, 
With  port  majeiiic  guides  the  glittering  car ; 
MONTGOMERY'S  godlike  form  dire&s  the  \vayr 
And  GREEN  unfcjds  the  gates  of  endlefs  day; 
Whilft  Angels,  "  trumpet  tongu'd,"  proclaim  thro'  air, 
«  Due  Honours  for  THZ  FIRST  or  MEN  prepare  \» 


N  IAN  A-  3 

—  \ 

A  Gentleman,    who   is  returned   from  Mount  VcnMi^ 

has  furniflied  us  with  the  foljowing  particulars  relative  to 
the  death  of  General  WASHINGTON  ; — — 

"  The  Genera^  a  little  before  his  death,  had  begun 
feveral  improvements  on  his  farm.  Attending  to  fame  of 
tliefe,  he  probably  caught  his  death.  He  had  in  contem- 
plation a  gravel  walk  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomack ;  be- 
tween the  walk  and  the  river  there  was  to  be  a  fiih  pond. 
Some  trees  were  to  be  cut  down,  and  others  preferved. 
On  Friday,  the  day  before  he  died,  he  fpent  fome  time 
by  the  fide  of  the  river,  marking  the  former.  There 
came  a  fall  of  f now,  which  did  not  deter  him  from  his. 
purfuit,  but  he  continued  till  his  neck  and  hair  were  quite 
covered  with  fnow.  He  fpent  the  evening  with  Mrs. 
Washington,  reading  the  news- papers,  which  came  by 
the  mail  that  evening ;  he  went  to  bed  as  uftial  about  nine 
o'clock,  waked  up  in  the  night,and  found  himfelf  extremely 
unwell,  but  would  not  allow  Mrs.  Wafbington  to  get 
up,  or  the  fervants  to  be  waked.  In  the  morning,  find- 
ing himfelf  very  ill,  Dr.  Craik,  of  Alexandria,  wasfent 
for.  Soon  after  his  arrival  the  two  confulting  phyficians 
were  called  in,  but  all  would  not  avail.  On  Saturday  he 
died.  He  faict  to  Col.  Lear,  a  littfe  before  his  death, 
"  bury  ine  deceritty,  and  not  till  two  days  after  rriy  de- 
ceafe."  —  To  Dr.  Craik  he  faid,  "  I  die  a  very  hard 
death-,  but  I  am  not  afraid  to  die."— -Before  he  breathed 
B  2  his 

We  diflike  this  expreflion,  as  being  one  often  applied  to  perfons 
of  a  very  different  description  from  the  iljuftrious  Character  v.'hom  we 
all  admire.—lf  the  expreffion  is  literally  related,  the  General  meant, 
th^t  the  pains  of  death  were  acute  and-d4Si=eiHflg— but,  rrmrk  the  rioble 


4  COLLECTANEA 

his  laft,   he  laid  himfeif  on  his  back,   placed  his  hands  be- 
fore him,  and  clofed  his  own  mouth  and  eyes. 

tc  The  General  has  kept  a  journal,  containing  a  minute 
detail  of  every  circumftance  of  his  public  life,  for  thefe 
many  years  pad,  which  no  doubt  will  contain  many  (ketch- 
es of  the  American  revolution  ;  hut  the  public  prints  are 
inaccurate  when  they  fay  he  has  left  a  profcfled  history. 
This  journal,  with  all  his  papers,  which  are  very  volu- 
minous, and  his  library,  of  about  1 500  volumes,  he  has 
left  to  Judge  Bufhrod  Washington,  his  nephew.  No  one 
in  the  United  States  will  make,  I  prefume,  a  more  judi- 
cious difpofal  of  the  papers  than  the  Judge.  He  is  a 
man  whofe  natural  talents  are  great,  and  acquirements  af- 
tonifhing.  By  intenfe  fludy  he  has  deftroyed  one  eye, 
and  is  threatened  with  the  lofs  of  the  other.  To  him  a- 
Jone  did  the  General  think  proper  to  leave'the  documents 
of  his  biography,  and  from  him  alone  ought  we  there-* 
fore  to  expe<5t  an  accurate  hi  (lory  of  his  life," 


<To  the  Printers  cf  the  ALEXANDRIA  News-paper. 

PRESUMING  that  fome  account  of  the  late  illnefs  and 
<k-ath  of  General  WASHINGTON,  will  be  generally  in- 
tercfling,  and  particularly  fo  to  the  profeffors  and  practi- 
tioners of  Medicine  throughout  America,  we  rcqueft  you 
to  pubiiili  the  following  ftatement.  JAMES  CR41K, 

ELISHA  C.  DICK, 
Some 

confidence  of  Christian  virtue,  the  glorious  reward  of  a  life  well  fpent ; 
"I  AM  NOT  AFRAID  TO  DIE  !  "——Here  the  Reader  will  recoiled 
the  memorable  faying  of  Mr.  Addifcn,  when  en  bis  death-bed;  "  Be* 
£  kdd  (&id  he)  /jo7v  a  CHRISTIAN  dies.'" 


NA.  $ 

SOME  time  in  the  night  of  Friday  the  131!}  inft.  hav? 
ing  been  expofed  to  a  rain  on  the  preceding  day,  General 
\\Tamington  was  attacked  with  an  inflammatory  aSfecYion 
t>f  the  upper  part  of  the  wind-pipe,  called  in  technical  lan- 
guage, Cynanche  Tr  ache  alls.  The  difeafe  commenced  with 
a  violent  ague,  accompanied  with  fome  pain  in  the  upper 
and  fore  part  cf  the  throat,  a  fenfe-  of  ftri&ure  in  the 
fame  part,  a  cough,  and  a  difficult  rather  than  painful  de- 
glutition, which  were  focn  fuccctded  by  fever  and  a 
quick  and  laborious  refpiration.  The  neceiTity  of  bleed 
letting  fuggefting  itfclf  to  the  General,  he  procured  < 
bleeder  in  the  neighbourhood,  who  took  from  his  arm  iii 
fcbe  right,  twelve  cr  fourteen  ounces  of  blood  :  He  would 
not  by  any  means  be  prevailed  upon  by  the  family  to  find 
ibr  the  attending  phyfician  till  the  following  niorningy >kiho 
arrived  at  Mount  Vernon  at. about  eleven  o'clock  on  Sa- 
turday. Difcovering'the  cafe  to  be  highly  alarming,  and 
fcrefeeing  the  fatal  tendency  of  the  difeafej  two  coniult- 
ing  phyficians  were  immediately  fent  for,  who  arrived,- 
one  at  half  after  three,  the  ether  at  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  :  In  the  interim  were  employed  two  copious 
bleedings,  a  blifter  was  applied  to  the  part  affected,  1  wo 
moderate  dofes  -of  calomel  were  given,  and  an  injection 
was  adrniniftered,  which  operated  on  the  lower  inteftine  ; 
but  all  without  any  perceptible  advantage  ;  ths  refpira- 
tion  becoming  ftill  more  difficult  and  difireffing. 

Upon  .the  arrival  of  the  fir  ft  of  the  confuliing  phyfici- 
ans,  it  was  agreed,  as  there  were  yet  no  figns  of  accu- 
mulation in  the  Bronchial  veflch  of  the  lungs,  to  try  the 
jefult  of  another  bleeding,  when  about  thirty-two  oun- 


< COLLECTANEA 

ces  of  blood  were  drawn,  without  the  fmalleft  apparent 
alleviation  of  the  difeafe.  Yaponrs  of  vinegar  and  water 
were  frequently  inhaled,  ten  grains  of  calomel  were  giv- 
en, fucceeded  by  repeated  dofes  of  emetic  tartar,  amount- 
ing in  all  to  five  or  fix  grains,  with  no  other  effect  than  a 
copious  difcharge  from  the  bowels,  The  powers  of  life 
feemed  now  manifeftly  yielding  to  the  force  of  the  difor- 
der.  BliAcrs  were  applied  to  the  extremities,  together 
with  a  cataplafm  of  bran  and  vinegar  to  the  throat. 
Speaking,  which  was  painful  from  the  beginning,  now  be- 
came almoft  impracticable  •,  refpiration  grew  more  and 
more  contra&ed  and  imperfect,  tilf  half  after  eleven 
o'clock,  on  Saturday  night,  retaining  the  full  pofleflictnt 
of  his  intellefr,  when  he  expired  without  a  ftruggle. 

He  was  fully  irnpreffed,  at  the  beginning  of  "his  com- 
plaint, as  well  as  throtigh  every  fucceeding  ftage  of  it, 
that  its  conclufton  would  be  mortal ;  fubmittmg  to  the 
feveral  exertions  made  for  his  recovery,  rather  as  a  duty, 
than  from  any  expectation  of  their  efficacy.  He  confid- 
ered  the  of  etations  of  death  upon  his  fyftcm  as  coeval  with 
the  difeafe  ;  and  feveral  hours  before  his  deceafe,  after 
repeated  efforts  to  be  underftood,  fucceeded  in  expreiTing 
a  deHre,  that  he  might  be  permitted  to  die  without  inter- 
ruption. 

During  the  fnort  period  of  his  illnefs,  he  ceconomifed 
his  time,  in  the  arrangement  of  fuch  few  concerns  as  re- 
quired his  attention,  with  the  utmo{l  ferenity,  and  anti- 
cipated his  approaching  diflblution  with  every  demon- 
ilration  of  that  equanimity,  for  which  his  whole  life  has 
been  fo  uniformly  and  Angularly  confpicucus, 

The 


f 

The  fignature  of  Doctor  Guftavus  Brown,  of  Port 
Tobacco,  who  attended  as  confulting  Fhyfician,  on  ac- 
count of  the  remotenefs  of  his  reficience  from  the  place, 
feas  not  been  procured  to  the  foregoing  ftatement. 

JAMES  CRAIK, 
Attending  Phyfaton* 

ELISHA  C.  DICK. 
Ccnfuhing  Ptyftcian. 


GEORGE-TOWN,  Dec.  20. 

On  Wednefday  lad  the  mortal  part  of 
THE  GREAT-r^the  Father  of  his  Country,  and  the  Friend 
of  Man  —  was  configned  to  the  filent  tomb  with  folcmn 
honours  and  funeral  pomp. 

A  multitude  of  people,  from  many  miles  round,  afTtm- 
bled  at  Mount  Fernon,  the  choice  abode  and  laft  earthly 
refidence  of  its  illuflrious  Chief.  There  were  the  groves, 
the  fpacious  avenues,  the  beautiful  fcenery,  the  noble  man- 
fion—  but,  alas  !  its  augufi  inhabitant  was  gone!—  his  body 
indeed  was  there,  but  his  foul  was  fled! 

In  the  long  and  lofty  portico,  where  oft  the  Hero  walked 
in  all  his  virtuous  glory,  now  lay  the  ihrouded  corpfe.—- 
The  countenance,  {till  compofed  and  ferene,  feemed  to  ex- 
prefs  the  dignity  of  that  fpirit  which  fo  lately  actuated  the 
lifelefs  form—  There,  thofe  who  paid  the  lad  fad  honours 
to  the  Benefactor  of  his  C9untry,  took  a  laft,  fad  farewell. 

Near  the  head  of  the  coffin  were  infcribed  the  words 
&wgeadjudic\um\  about  the  middle,  Gloria  Deo  ;  and, 
on  the  filver  plate,  General  George  Wajbwgtvn  departed  this 
Life  \^tli  Dec.  1799^  £M  68. 

Be- 


£  COLLECTANEA 

Between  3  and  4  o'cock,  the  found  of  artillery  frdxrf  a 
vefiel  in  the  river  firing  minute  guns,  aroufed  all  our  fcr- 
rowful  feelings— the  body  was  moved,  and  a  band  of  mufic 
•with  mournful  melody,  melted  the  foul  into  all  the  ter.der- 
refs  of  woe.-— T^e  proceffion  marched  in  the  following 
crdtr: 

Cavalry,  Infantry,  and  Guard,  with  arms  reverfedj 
Mufic  $ 
Clergy  • 

The  Generals  horfe,  wilh  his  faddle,  holder;;,  and  piftok; 
Col.  Sims,  f      n     ")      Col.  Gilpin, 

Ramfay,  J       *3      C  Marftelier, 

^ayne,  [      |     j  Littles 

Mourners ; 

Mafonic   Brethren  ; 

And,   Citizen^. 

When  the  proceifion  arrived  at  the  bottom  of  the  lawn, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac k,  where  the  family  vault  is 
placed,  the  cavalry  halted,  and  the  infantry  marched  to- 
•wards  the  mount  and  formed  in  lines ;  the  Clergy,  the 
Mafonic  Brethren,  and  the  Citizens,  defcended  to  the  vault, 
where  the  Church  funeral  fervice  was  performed. 

Three  general  difcharges  by  the  artillery,  cavalry,  and 
infantry,  paid  the  lad  tribute  of  refpecl:  to  the  entombed 
Commander  in  Chief  of  the  American  Armies. 

The  Sun  was  now  fetting — Alas,  the  Son  of  Glory  was 
fct— -No,  the.irame  of  WASHINGTON  will  live  for  ever ! 


PROCEEDINGS  IN  CONGRESS. 

HOUSE  of  REPRESENT ATI?VES. 

Wednesday,  Dec.  iS. 

This  morning  General  Marshall  came  into  the  Houfe 
apparently  much  agitated,  and  addrefied  the  Speaker 
in  the  following  words : — 

66  Sir,  information  lias  been  juft  received,  that  our  illuf- 
trious  Fellow  Citizen,  the  Commander  in  Chief  of  the 
American  army,  and  the  late  Prendent  of  the  United  States, 
is  no  more. — Altho'  this  diftreifing  intelligence  is  not  cer- 
tain, there  is  too  much  reafon  to  believe  its  truth. 

"After  receiving  information  of  a  national  calamity  fo 
heavy  and  afflicting,  the  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives  can  be 
but  ill  fitted  for  public  bufmefs.  I  move  you,  therefore, 
that  we  adjourn." 

The  Houfe  immediately  adjourned — as  did  the  Senate. 

Yhurfday)  Dec.  19. 

Mr.  Marshall  addrefled  the  Chair  as  follows  : 
"  Mr.  SPEAKER— The  melancholy  event  which  was 
yefterday  anounced  with  doubt,  has  been  rendered  but  too 
certain.  Our  WASHINGTON  is  no  more!  The  hero,  the 
fage,  and  the  patriot  of  America — the  man  on  whom,  in 
times  of  danger,  every  eye  was  turned,  and  all  hopes  were 
placed,  lives  now,  only  in  his  own  great  a&ions,  and  in 
the  hearts  cf  an  afie&ionate  and  afflicted  people. 

"If,  Sir,  it  had  even  not  been  ufual,   openly  to  teftify 
for  the  memory  of.  thofe  whom  Heaven  had  fe- 


50,         COLLECTANEA 

Je&ed  as  its  inftruments,  for  difpenfing  good  to  men,  yet, 
iuch  has  been  the  uncommon  worth,  and  fuch  the  extra- 
ordinary incidents,  which  have  marked  the  life  of  him, 

•whole  lofs  we  all  deplore,   that  the  whole  American  na- 
*    * 

tion  impelled  by  the  fame  feelings,  would  call  with  one 
voice,  for  a  public  manifcftation  of  that  forrow  which  is 
fo  deep  atid  fo  univerfal. 

t  <c  More  than  any  other  individual,  and  as  much  as  to 
one  individual  was  poflible,  has  he  contributed  to  found 
(his  our  wide  fpreading  Empire,  and  to  give  to  the  weftern 
World  its  independence  and  freedom. 

"  Having  efiefted  the  great  object  for  which  he  was 
placed  at  the  htad  of  our  armies,  we  have  feen  him  con- 
verting the  fword  into  the  plough-fhare,  and  voluntarily 
finking  the  Soldier  in  the  Citizen. 

"  When  the  debility  of  our  Federal  fyftem  had  become 
manifed,  and  the  bonds,  which  connected  the  parts  of  this 
vaft  continent,  were  difibtving,  we  have  feen  him  the 
Chief  of  thofe  Patriots  who  formed  for  us  a  ConMitution, 
which  by  preferving  the  Union,  will,  I  truft,  fubftantiate 
ami  perpetuate  thofe  bleflings  which  our  Revolution  had 
promifed  to  beftow. 

<t  In  obedience  to  the  general  voice  of  his  Country, 
calling  en  him  to  prefide  over  a  Great  People,  we  have 
feen  him  once  more  quit  the  retirement  he  loved,  and,  in 
a  ieafon  more  Urormy  and  tempeftuous  than  war  itfelf, 
with  calm  and  wife  determination,  purfued  the  true  inte- 
refts  of  the  Nation,  and  contribute,  more  than  any  other 
could  contribute,  to  the  eftablifliment  of  that  fyflem  of 
policy,  which  will,  I  trnft,  yet  preferve  our  peace,  our 
honour,  and  our  independence. 


WJSH1NGTQNIANA.  it 

"Having  been  twice  unanimoufly  chofen  the  Chief 
Magiftrate  of  a  Free  People,  we  fee  him,  at  a  time  when 
his  re-election  with  univerfal  fuflrage  could  not  be  doubt*' 
eil,  affording  Jo  the  world  a  rare  inftance  of  moderation, 
by  withdrawing  from  his  high  ftation  to  the-  peaceful  walks 

* 

cf  private  life. 

'*  However  the  public  confidence  may  change,  and  the 
public  affetlions  fluctuate  with  refpeQ:  to  others,  yet,  with 
refpe£t  to  him,  they  have,  in  war  and  in  peace,  in  public 
apd  in  private  life,  been  as  fteady  as  his  own  firm  mind, 
and  as  conftar.t  as  his  own  exalted  virtues. 

"  Let  us  then,  Mr.  Speaker,  pay  the  kft  tribute  of  re- 
fpecl:  and  affection  to  our  departed  Friend—Let  the  Grand 

» 

Council  of  the  Nation  difplay  fhofe  femiments  which  the 
Nation  fcels.^ — -For  this  purpofe,  I  hold  in  my  hand  fome 
Refolutions,  which  I  take  the  liberty  of  offering  to  the 
Houfe."  , 

]Vlr.  MarH)all  having  handed  his  Refolutions  to  the 
Clerk,  they  were  read,  and  unanimoufly  agreed  to  as 
follows,  viz. 

T>  r,  ,  -     TT        r 

RESOLVED,  That  this  Houfe  v/ill  \vaiton  the  Prefident 
of  the  United  States,  in  condolence  of  this  mournful  event, 

RESOLVED,  That  the  Speaker's  chair  be  (hrouded  with 
black,  and  that  the  Members  gncl .Officers  of  the  Hou,f<? 
wear  black  during  the  J5e{fy>n. 

RESOLVED,  That  a  Committee,  in  conjunction  with 
one  from  the  Senate,  be  appointed  to  confidcr  on  the  mo(l 
fuifcable  manner  of  paying  hpnour  to  the  memory  of  the 
MAN,  frft  in  war,  "fir  ft  in  peace,  and  fir  (I  in  the  hearts 

r  ,  .    ^ 
W  his  vountryrnen. 

C  z  h 


14  COLLECTANEA 

A  meflage  from  the  Prefident  was  received,  communi- 
cating a-Letter  from  Tobias  Lear,  Efq.  private  Secretary 
to  General  Washington : — 

THE  Letter  herewith  tranfmitted  will  inform  you,  that 
it  has  pleafed  Divine  Providence  to  remove  from  ibis  life, 
our  excellent  fellow  citizen  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  by 
the  purity  of  his  character,  and  a  lorg  ftries  of  fervices  to 
his  Country,  rendered  illuftrious  through  the  world.  Ij  re- 
mains for  an  afTe&ionafe  and  grateful  People,  in  whcfe 
hearts  he  can  never  die,  to  pay  fuitable  honour  to  his  me- 
mory. JOHN  ADAMS. 

SIR,  Mount  Vcrnon,  Dec.  1 5,  1 799. 

"  I  T  is  with  inexpreflible  grief,  that  I  have  to  an- 
nounce to  you,  the  death  of  the  great  and  good  General 
WASHINGTON.  He  died  laft  evening  between  10  and 
1 1  o'clock,  after  a  fliort  illnefs  of  about  24  hours.  Hifc 
diforder  was  an  inflammatory  fore  throat,  which  proceeded 
from  a  cold,  of  which  he  made  but  little  complaint  on  Fri- 
day. On  Saturday  morning  about  3  o'clock  he  became  ill. 
Dr.  Craik  attended  him  in  the  morning,  and  Dr.  Dick  of 
Alexandria,  and  Dr,  Brown  of  Port  Tobacco,  were  foon 
after  called  in.  Every  medical  afTiflance  was  offered,  hut 
without  the  defired  effect.  —  His  laft  fcene  correfponded 
with  the  whole  tenor*  of  his  life — Not  a  groan  nor  a  Com- 
plaint efcaped  him  in  extreme  Hiflrefs — With  perfect  re- 
fignation,  and  in  full  pofleffibh  of  his  reafon,  he  clofed  his 
well  fpent  life. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c.  %*•  LEAR" 

3te  Fvefident  of  the  United  States, 


WASHING?  QW I  AN  A 

Generals  Marflial!  and  Smith  were  appointed  to  wait  on 
the  Prefident,  to  know  at  v/hat  time  it  woujd.be  Conveni- 
ent to  receive  the  Houfe. 

Generals  Marfhal!  and  Smith  having  watted  on  ths 
Prefident  with  the  .firft  Refelution,  reported,  That  the. 
Prefident  would  be  ready  to  receive  them  at  one  o'clock 
this  day.  The  Houfe  accordingly  waited  on  him. 

The  Speaker  addrefled  the  Prefident  in  the  following 
v/ords : — 

SIR,  The  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives,  penetrated  with 
a  deep  fenfe  of  the  irreparable  lofs  fufiained  by  the  Nation, . 
by  the  death  of  that  great  and  gocd  Man,  the  iHuflricus 
and  beloved  WASHINGTON,   wait  en  you,  Sir>  to  cxprefs 
ifccir  condolence  on  this  melancholy  event.  jp»f 

To  which  the  Prefident  made  the  following  anfwer  :    , 

. 
,  Gentlemen  of  the  Houfe  of  Representatives, 

,  I  Receive  with  great  refpecl  and  aijecticn,  the  condo- 
lence of  the  Hcjife  of  Reprefentatives  ojn  the  mefoncholy. 
and  afflicting  event  in  the  death  of  the  rnofl  illuflrSous  and 
beloved  perfonage  which  this  Country  ever  produced.  I 
fympathize  with  you — with  the  nation,  and  with£oo,d 
men  ihro*  the  world^  in  this  irreparable. lofs  fudained  by  us 
ail.  JOHN  AD  Am. 

A  rnefTage  from  the  Senate  announced  their  concur- 
rence to  the  Refolution  appointing  a  joint  Committee; 
and  that  7  Members  were  appointed  on  their  part— - 16 
were  appointed  from  this  Houfe. 


i*  COLLECTANEA 

Monday,    Dec.  23. 

Mr.  Marfliall  made  a  report  from  the  joint  Committee 
appointed  to  confider  a  fuirable  mode  of  commemorating 
*le  death  of  General  Washington. 

He  reported  the  following  Refolutions : 

Refolved  by  the  Senate  and  Houfe  of  Representatives 
of  the  Uoiteji  States  of  America,  in  Congrefs  Aflembled, 
That  a  marble  monument  be  ere&ed  by  the  United  States 
at  the  Capitol  of  the  city  of  Wafhington,  and  that  the  fa^ 
imly  of  General  Wafliington,  be  requeued  to  permit  his 
beefy  to  be  dcpofued  under  it ;  and  that  the  monument  be 
fo  deilgned  as  to  commemorate  the  great  evtnts  of  hi$ 
military  and  political  life. 

And  be  it  further  refofved,  That  there  be  a  funeral 
proceffion  from  Cangrefs  Hall,  to  the  German  Lutheran 
Chnrch,  'in  memory  of  Gen.  George  Wafliington,  on 
Thurfday  the  26th  inft.  and  that  an  oration  be  prepared 
at  the  reqireft  of  Corgrcfs,  to  be  delivered  before  both 
Houfes  that  day  ;  and  that  the  Frefident  cf  the  Senate, 
and  Speaker  of  the  Hoiife  of  Reprefentatives,  be  defired 
to  requeft  one  of  the  Members  of  Congrefs  to  prepare 
ami  deliver  the  fame. 

And  be  it  further  refolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to 
the  people  of  the  United  States,  to  wear  crape  on  their 
left  arm  as  mourning,  for  thirty  days. 

And  be  it  further  refolved,  That  the  Frefident  of  the 
Unit-ed  States,  be  rerjrtefted  to  direcl  a  copy  of  thefe  Re- 
foluiions  to  be  tranfmitted  to  Mrs.  Wafhington,  alluring 
her  of  the  profound  refpect  Congrefs  will  ever  bear  to  he? 
jwfon  and  chara&er,  cf  their  condolence  on  the  late  afTe&- 

ing 


WASHINGTONIANA.  *$ 

ing  difpenfation  of  Providence,  and  entreating  her  a(Tent 
tcr  the  interment  of  the  remains  of  General  Washington, 
in  the  manner  cxprefied  in  the  firfl  Refolution, 

And  be  it  further  refolved,  That  the  Prefidcnt  of  the 
United  States  be  requested  to  iffue  his  Proclamation,  noti- 
fying to  the  People  throughont  the  United  States  the  re- 
commendation contained  in  the  third  Refolution. 

Thefe  Refoludons  pafTed  both  Homes  unanimoufiy. 
Friday,    Dec.  26. 

General  Marfliall  faid,  that  Congrefs  having  attended 
an  oration  delivered,  at  their  requeft,  on  account  of  the 
deatn  of  General  Waihington,  he  prefumed  it  would  be 
their  wiPn,  as  it  was  his,  that  fome  fentiment  of  refpe£t  and 
approbation  ihould  be  exprefled  on  the  occafion;  hethere- 
fbre  made  the  following  motion,  which  was  unanhnoufly 
Agreed  to,  vir,. 

The  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives,  highly  gratified  with 
the  manner  in  which  Mr.  Lee  has  performed  the  fervice 
afllgned  to  him,  to  deliver  an  oration  on  the  death  of 
.General  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  and  ojefirous  of  com- 
municating to  their  Fellow  Citizens,  thro*  the  medium  of 
the  prefs,  thofe  fentiments  of  refpect  for  the  chara&er,  of 
gratitude  fo'r  the  fervices,  and  of  grief  for  the  death  of  that 
illuflrious  Perfonage,  which,  felt  by  all,  have,  on  this  me- 
lancholy occafion,  been  fo  well  expreOed  : 

RESOLVED,  That  the  Speaker  prcfer.t  the  thanks  of 
this  Houfe  to  Mr,  Lee,  for  the  Oration  delivered  by  him 
to  both  Houfes  of  Congrefs  on  Thurfday  the  26~th  inlr. 
and  requeft  that  he  will  permit  a  cspy  thereojf  to  be  taken 
Cor  publication. 


TlS 


Monday,  the  Senate  fent  the  following  Letter  of 
Condolence  to  the  Prefident  of  the  United  States,  by  a 
Committee  bf  its  Members:  — 

*To  the  PRESIDENT  of  the-  UNITED  STATES. 

T  H  E  Senate  ef  the  United  States  refpeftfully  take 
leave,  Sir,  to  exprefs  to  you  their  deep  regret  for  the  lo(V 
their  Country  fuftains  in  the  death  of  General  GEORGE 
WASHINGTON. 

This  event,  fi>  diitreffing  to  all  our  Felfow  Citizen?, 
muff  be  peculiarly  heavy  to  you,  who  have  long  been  af*. 
fachtej  with  him  in  Deals  of  Patriot  ifm.  Permit  us,  Sir", 
to  mingle  our  tears  with,  yours—  -on  this  occafion  it  is  man- 
ly to  weep.  To  lofe  fuch  a  Man,  at  fuch  a  erifis,  is  no 
common  calamity  to  the  world  —  our  Country  incurrit 
her  Father.  The  Almighty  Difpofer  of  human  events 
has  taken  from  us  our  greatefl:  benefactor  and  ornament- 
It  becomes  us  to  fubrnit  with  reverence  to  HIM  who 
*e  maketh  darknefs  his  pavilion," 

With  patriotic  pride,  we  review  the  life  of  our 
WASHINGTON,  and  compare  him  with  thofe  of  other 
countries,  who  have  been  pre-eminent  in  fame.  Ancient 
and  modern  names  are  diniimfhed  before  him,  '  Greatnefs 
snd  guilt  have  too  often  been  allied  ;  but  his  fame  is  \vhiter 
than  it  is  brilliant.  The  deftroyers  of  nations  ftocd  abafli- 
ed  at  the  maje/ly  of  his  virtue.  It  reproved  the  intempe- 
rance of  their  ambition,  and  darkened  the  fplendour  of 
victory.  The  fcene  is  clofed,  and  we  are  no  longer  anxi- 
ous lead  misfortune  &culd  fully  his  glory  ;  he  has  travel- 
led on  to  the  end  of  his  journey,  and  carried  with  him  an 

in- 


iVA S  H INGTO  NIA N A.  * 7 

facreafing  weight  of  honour;  he  has  depofited  it  fafely, 
-where' Misfortune  cannot  tarnifh  it*  where  Malice  cannot 
biaft  it.  Favoured  of  Heaven,  he  departed  without  ex- 
hibiting the  weaknefs  of  humanity  ;  magnanimous  in  death, 
the  darknefs  of  the  grave  could  not  obfcure  his  brightrtefs. 

Such  was  theMan  whom  we  deplore.  Thanks  to  God, 
his  glory  is  confummated— - WASHINGTON  yet  lives  on 
earth  in  his  fpptlefs  example-— his  fpirit  is  in  Heaven  ! 

Let  his  Countrymen  cWifecrate  the  memory  of  the 
heroic  General,  the  patriotic  Statefman,  and  the  virtuous 
Sage  :  let  them  teach  their  children  never  to  fcrget,  that 
the  Truits  of  his  labours  and  his  example  afe  their  In~ 
her  it  one  e. 

Tfie  PRESIDENT'/ ANSWER. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Senate, 

I  Receive,  with  the  mod  refpe&ful  and  affectionate 
fentiments,  in  thid  impreflive  Addrefs,  the  obliging  expref- 
fions  of  your  regret,  for  the  lofs  our  (Jountry  hasfuftain- 
cd,  in  the  death  of  her  moft  edeemed,  beloved  and  admir- 
ed Citizen. 

In  the  multitude  of  rhy  thoughts  and  recollections  on 
this  melancholy  event,  you  will  permit  me  to  fay,  that 
I  have  feen.  him  in  the  days  of  adverfity,  in  Tome  of  the 
fcenes  of  his  deepefl  diftrefs,  and  mofl  trying  perplexities  ; 
1  have  alfo  attended  him  in  his  bigheft  elevation,  and  moft 
profpercus  felicity,  with  unifornTadmiration  of  his  wif- 
liom,  moderation,  and  conftancy. 

Among  all  our  original  aflbciates  <  in  that  memorable 
of  the  Continent  in  1774,  which  firft  exprefTed  the 
D  So- 


tff  I     COLLECTANEA 

SOVEREIGN  WILL  OF  A  FREE  NATION  IN  AMERICA, 
lie  was  the  only  one  remaining  in  the  GeneralGovemr.ent. 
Although  witli  a  conftitution  more  enfeebled  than  his,  at 
an  age  when  he  thought  it  necefTary  to  prepare  for  retire- 
ment, I  feel  my  fell"  alone,  bereaved  of  my  laft  brother  ; 
yet  I  derive  a  ftrong  confolation  from  the  unanimous  dif- 
pofition  which  appears  in  all  ages  and  clafTes,  to  mingle 
their  forrcws  with  mine,  on  this  common  calamity  to  the 
world. 

The  life   of  cur  WASHINGTON  cannot  fufler  by  a 
comparifon  with  thofe  of  other  countries,  who  have  been 
moft  celebrated  and  exalted  by  Fame.    The  attributes  and 
decorations  of  Royalty,    could  only  have  ierved  to  ecliplc 
the  rvfajefty  of  thofe  virtues  which  made  him,  from  being 
*  modeft  Citizen,  a  more  refplendent  luminary.     IViisfor- 
tvme,  had  he  lived,  could  hereafter  have  fuilied  his  glory 
only  with  thofe  fuperficial  minds,   -who,  believing  "  that 
chara&ers  and'acTions  are  marked  by  fuccefs  alone,"  rare- 
Jy  deferve  to  enjoy  it. — Malice  could  never  blafl  his  honor, 
and  Envy  made  Him  a  fingular  exception  to  her  unive-rfal 
ru]e — For  himfrlf  he  had   lived  enough  to  Life  and   to 
dory— For   his  Fellow  Citizens,   if   their  prayers  could 
luve'been  'anfwered,  he  would  have  been  immortal — For 
tne,  his  departure  is  at  a  moil:  unfortunate  moment.  Trial- 
ing,  however,  in  the  wife  and  righteous  dominion  cf  [TO-, 
•vidence  over  the  paffions  of  men,   and  the  .refults  of  their 
councils  and 'actions,   as  well  as  over  their  lives,  no  thing- 
remains  for  me  but  humble  refignation, 

His  example  is  now  complete,  and  it  will  teach  wif- 
dcm  and  virtue -to  Magiftrates,  Citizens,  and  Men,  not 
only  in  the  preient.age,  but  in  future -generations,  as  long 
as  our  hiftory  fliall  be  read— If  a  Trajan  found  a  Pliny,  a 
Marcus  Aurelius  can  never  want  biographers,  eulogUUJ 
or  hiftorians.  ~JOHN  ADAMS, 

United  States,  a^d  Dec.  1 799, 


On  Monday  the  8th  of  January,  the  Prefident  fent  thq 
following  Letters  to  CcngrcTs  :  — 

Gentlemen  of  the  Senate,  and 

Genthmen  «/  M?  Honfe  of  Reprtfentafiver, 

I  N  compliance  with  the  requefl  in  one  of  the  Refolutionf 
(fCcngrefs  of  the  2  \jl  of  December  la  ft  9  I  tranf  milled  a 
fopy  ofthojje  RefoJut'ions  by  my  Secretary  ,  Mr.  Shaw,  to  Mrf. 
Waftington,  ajffuring  her  of  the  profound  refpcR  Congrefs 
witt  ever  bear  to  her  perfon  and  character  —  of  their  condol- 
ence in  the  late  affljfling  difpenfation  of  Providence,  and  en* 
treating  her  affent  to  the  interment  of  the  remains  of  General 
GKORGE  WASHINGTON  in  the  manner  exprejfed  in  the 
frjl  Refolution.  J!s  the  fennimentf  sf  that  virtu'AtsJLady, 
not  lefs  beloved  by  this  Nation,  than  foe  is  at  prefent  greatly 
affiicled,  can  n$ver  be  fo  well  expreffed  as  in  her  own  words, 
1  tranfmit  to  Congrefs  her  original  Letter, 

It  would  be  an  attempt  of  too  much  delicacy  to  make  any 
comments  upon  it  —  But  there  can  be  no  doubt,  that  the  Nation 
at  large,  as  well  as  all  the  branches  of  the  Government,  wilt 
be  highly  gratified  by  any  arrangement  which  may  diminijb 
the  facrifice  /he  makes  of  her  individual  feelings, 

United  States,  Sth  Jan.  j  800,  JOHN  AD  MIS, 

Mrs.  WASHING  TON'S  LETTEK. 


SIR,  Mount  Fernm,  ^\Jl  Dec.  I  799, 

WHILE  I  fed,  with  keenefl  anguifc,  the  late  dlfpcnfa.- 
tions  of  Divine  Providence^  /  cannot  be  infenfible  to  the 
mournful  tribute  of  refpeft  and  veneration  which  are  paid  to 
the  memory  of  my  dear  deceafed  Hufband^  and,  as  his  beft 
fervices  and  mojl  anxious  wifbes  were  always  devoted  to  the 
welfare  and  hdppinefs  of  his  Country,  to  know  that  they  were 
truly  appreciated,  and  gratefully  remembered9  affords  no  in- 
confiderable  confolation. 

Taught  by  the  great  example  which  1  have  fo  long  fiad 
before  me  3  never  to  opp'fe  my  private  wifics  to  the  fnblif 

D  2  w/// 


so  COLLECTANEA 


I  niujl  confent  to  the  rcquefl  made  by  Congrefs,  ivhhft 
you  have  had  the  gocdnefs  to  transmit  t*  me  —  and)  in  dc,in(r 
this,  I  need  not,  I  can  nrt  fay,  'what  a  facrijice  of  individual 
feeling  1  make  to  a  fenfs  cf  public  duty  . 

.     With  grateful  acknowledgements  and  unfeigned  thanks  for 
the  perfonal  refpefl  and  evidences  of  condolence  exbreffed  by 
Congrefs  and  Tourfelf,  I  remain  very  rejpefifully^ 
Sir,  your  mojl  obedient  and  humble  fervaitf, 

MARTHA  WASHINGTON* 
The  Prudent  of  the  United  States. 

ARMT  DEPARTMENT. 

THE  Prefident,  with  deep  regret,  announces  to  the 
Army  the  death  of  its  beloved  Chief,  General  GEORGE 
WASHINGTON.  Sharing  in  the  grief  which  every  heart 
rrmft  feel  for  fo  heavy  and  afflicting  a  public  lofs,  and  de- 
firous  to  exprefs  his  high  fcnfc  of  the  vaft  debt  of  grati- 
tude which  is  due  to  the  virtue,  talents,  and  ever  memor- 
able fervices  of  the  illuftrious  deceafed,  he  directs  that  fu- 
Jieral  honours  be  paid  to  him  at  all  the  Military  flations, 
and  that  the  Officers  of  the  Army,  and  of  the  feveral  Corps 
of  Volunteers,  wear  crape  on  the  left  arm  by  way  of 
mourning  for  fix  months.  Major  General  Hamilton  will 
give  the  neceflary  orders  for  carrying  into  effect  the  fore- 
going directions. 

Given  at  the  War  Office  of  the  United  States  in  Phi- 
ladelphia this  jpth  day  of  December,  A.D.   1799, 
and  in   the  24th  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  , 
faid  States. 

By  command  of  the  Prefident, 

JAMES  M'HENRY, 
Secretary  of  War* 

NAFT  DEPARTMENT. 

THE  Preficlent,  with  deep  affliction,  announces  to  the 
,  and  to  the  Marines,  the  death  of  cur  beloved  fei- 


WASHING  TO  N I A  NA.  21 

low-citizen  GEORGE   WASHINGTON,   Commander  of 
our  Armies,  and  late  Prefident  of  theTJnited  States;    but 
rendered  mure  illuftrious   by  his  eminent  virtues,  and  a 
long  feries   of   the  moft  important  fervices,  than  by  the 
honours  which  his  grateful  Country  delighted  to  confer 
upon  him.  —  Defirous  that  the  Navy  and  Marines  fhould' 
exprefs,    in  common   with  every  other  defcription  of  A- 
rnerican  Citizens,   the  high  fenfe  which  ail  foel  of  the  lofs ' 
our  Country  has  fuftaineti    in  the  death  of  this  good  and 
great  Man ;   the  Prefident  dire&s,   that  the  veflels  of  the 
Navy,  in  our  own  and  foreign  ports,  ,bc  put  in  mourning, 
for  one   week,    by  wearing  their  colours  half-maft  high  ; 
and  that  the  Officers  of   the  Navy,  and  of  the  Marines, 
\year  crape  on   the   left  arm,   below  the  elbow,   for  fix 
months. — r-2o/£  Dec.  1 799. 

SEN.  STODDERT.^ 


PHILADELPHIA,  Dec.  27. 

Yefterday,  purfuant  to  arrangements  previoufly  made, 
a  Funeral  Prcceflton,  in  honour  of  our  late  Commander  in 
Chief  and  Prefident,  took  place  in  this  city. 

The  military,  &c.  having  aflembled  at  the  StateHoufe 
and  formed  in  line,  to  receive  the  Bier,  about  12  o'clock, 
the  procefTion  moved  along  Fifth  to  Walnut-flreet,  down 
Walnut  to  Fourth-ilreet,  and  thence  forward  to  Zion 
Church  in  folemn  order — [Here  follows  the  particulars  of 
the  procefllon  ] 

The  front  of  the  proceflion  having  reached  its  pofition, 
it  opened  to  the  right  and  left  and  halted,  (leaning  on  re- 
verfed  arms)  for  the  purpofe  of  admitting  the  Clergy,  £c. 
the  mufic  playing  a  dead  march,  the  bells  tolling,  and  mi" 
nute  guns  firing  during  the  whole  of  the  ceremony. 

Having  arrived  at  the  Church,  the  Bier  was  conveyed 
to  the  centre  of  the  middle  aide.  Here  the  ceremonies 
commenced  with  foft  and  folemn  mufic  ;  the  Right  Rev. 
PifhopWhite  read  fuitable  prayers  j  and,  after  a  fhort  paufe, 


aa  %    COLLECTANEA 

an  elcquent  Oration,  was  delivered,  with  great  emphafo 
and  elegance,  by  Major  General  Herry  Lee,  a  Member 
of  the  Houfe  of  Representatives  from  the  State  of  Virginia, 
At  the  conclufion  of  the  Oration,  vocal  and  inftrumental 
mufic,  in  honour  of  the  departed  Hero,  excited  a  flrong 
and  afle&ing  fenfibility.  After  which  the  Bier  was  taken 
from  the  Church,  and  three  vollies  being  fired  over  it,  con- 
cluded the  ceremonies,  of  the  day. 

RICHMOND,  Dec.  24. 

The  death  of  General  Wafliington  has  been  attended 
\vitVi  every  mark  of  fincere  regret,  which  fo  melancholy 
an  event  was  naturally  calculated  to  excite  in  the  heart  of 
every  true  American. 

On  the  receipt  of  the  aflecYmg  intelligence,  both  Houfes 
of  the  Ltgiflature  immediately  adjourned,  after  having  en- 
tered into  a  refolution  for  each  Member  to  wear  a  badge 
of  mourning  during  the  remainder  of  the  Seffion.  In  the 
evening,  minute  guns  were  fired  by  Capt.  Myers's  Com- 
p*ny  of  Artillery,  whilrt  "the  Church  bells  toll'd  the 
<freadful  truth  I"  —  The  venerable  Society  of  Cincinnati 
paid  due  refpecl  to  his  memory  as  a  member,  and  as  the 
pride  of  their  Order,  by  unanimously  agreeing,  to  wear  a 
bJack  crape  for  three  months— In  fhort,  that  mark  of  ef- 
teem  was  exhibited  by  almoft  every  Citizen. 

On  Sunday,  a  grand  Funeral  ProcefTicn,  ccmpofed  of 
the  Legiflative  Body,  the  Council  of  State,  the  Mafonic 
Societies,  and  a  large  concourfe  of  the  moil  refpeclable 
Ctti/ens,  folemnly  marched  to  the  doleful  found  of  bells  to 
the  Capitol,  where  an  excellent  difcourfe  upon  the  occa-« 
fion  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  John  D.  Blair. 

PETERS%BURGH,  Dec.  31. 

Agreeably  to  a  recommendation  of  the  Common  Hall 
of  this  Town,  Sunday  tail  was  obferved  as  a  day  of  folemn 
humiliation  for  the  lofs  of  our  friend  and  benefactor,  Gen- 
ral  GEORGE  WASHINGTON.  A  general  anxiety  was. 

ex- 


WASHING?  ON  I  AN  A. 

txclted  among  the  inhabitants  to  pay  this  tribute  of 
to  the  memory  of  our  beloved  Countrymen,  but 
•    heavy  rains  prevented  many  from  joining  in  tbe  folemnities 
of  the  day. 

A  difcharge  of  16  cannon,  at  minute  intervals,  begirt 
at  fun-rife.  At  mid-day,  a  gun  was  fired  to  notify  that 
the  people  were  aflfembled  at  the  Mafon's  Hall ;  after 
which,  the  Company  of  Artillery  marched  to  BlandiW?, 
fired  a  gun,  and  then  jproceeded  to  the  top  of  Blandford 
Hill,  where  they  commenced  the  difchargeof  68  minrtre 
guns,  at  which  time  the  Citizens  aflcmbled  at  the  HaH, 
arid  formed  a  procefiion  to  the  Church  in  the  following 
order,  vi?,.  the  Militia  Cavalry — Mufic — the  United  States 
troops— the  Clergy — the  Mayor  and  Commonalty— the 
Mafonic'  Brethren— and,  Citizens. 

On  arriving  at  the  Church,  the  Cavalry  formed  to  the 
right,  and  the  United  States  troorw  to-  the  left,  when  the 
Clergy,  Mayor  arid  Commonalty,  Mafonic  Brethren,  and 
Citizens,  followed  by  the  Military,  entered  the  Church. 

Divine  Service  was  performed  by  the  Rev.  Andrew 
Syme,  afiifted  by  the  Rev.  Wm.  Harrifon,  and  the  Rev. 
John  C.Ogden.  A  very  feufible  and  well-adapted  drf- 
courfe  was  then  delivered  with  gre^it  feeling  and  fervency 
by  Mr.  Syme  from  Pfalm  cxir,  6,  c'  the  Righteous  {hall 
be  in  everlafong  remembrance."  —  Several  anthems  w-ere 
well  fung  by  a  fociety  of  Gentlemen. 

After  Divine  Service,  the  proceflion  was  again  formcd* 
and  returned  to  the  Mafon's  Hall,  when  the  company  re-; 
tired,  each  man  to  his  home. 

PHILADELPHIA,  DSC. 24: 

The  Theatre,  laft  evening,  joined  in  the  public  tefli- 
mony  of  regret  for  the  lofs  of  the  Hero  of  America,— *T he 
Houfe  (which  was  extremely  full)  difptayed  a  fcene  calcu- 
lated to  imprefs  the  mind  ^with  ths  utmoft  folemnity,  of 
forrow.  The  pillars  fupporling  the  bi?XGs  \vere  encircled 
w;h  black  crape;  tke  chandajiers  ^ ere  decorated  w.ith  the 


«4         COLLECTANEA 

infigriia  of  woe,  and  the  audience,  particularly  the  ferriale 
y>art  of  it,  appeared  in  mourning.  At  7  o'clock,  the  band 
ftnick  up  Washington's  March ;  after  which  a  folemri 
dirge  was  performed,  when  the  curtain  (lowly  rifing,  dif- 
covered  a  Tomh  in  the  centre  of  the  flage  in  the  Grecian 
fiile  of  architecture,  fupported  by  truffes.  In  the  centre 
cf  it  was  a  portrait  of  the  General,  encircled  by  a  wreath 
of  caken  leaves  ;  under  the  portrait,  a  fwprd,  fhield,  and 
helmet,  and  the  colours  of  the  United  States,  The  top 
was  in  the  form  of  a  pyramid,  in  the  front  of  which  ap- 
peared the  American  Eagle,  holding  in  her  beak  a  fcroll, 
on  which  was  infcribed,  A  NdtMs  Tears  /—The  fides  of 
the  dage  were  decorated  with  black  banners,  containing 
the  names  of  the  different  States  of  the  Union,  in  golden 
letters,  and  over  which  mourning  trophies  were  fufpended. 
— -A  Monody  was  recited  by  Mr.  Wignel),  accompanied 
by  fcleinn  Airs;  and  the  tragedy  of  the  RpMAr.FATHE.R 
concluded  the  bufmefs  of  the  evening. 

AIRS  fN  THE  MONODY.        , 

I.  Slowly  ftrike  the  felernn  bell, 
Nature  found  thy  deepeft  knell ; 
Power  of  Mufic,  touch  the  heart, 
Na'aire  tb^re  will  do  her  part. 

-•         God  of  Melancholy,  come, 
Peniive  o'er  the  Hero's  tomb; 
In  faddeft  ftrains  his  lofs  deplore, 
With  piercing  cries  rend  ev'ry  fhore, 
For  WASHINGTON  is  now  no  more! 

II.  Glory,  bring  thy  faireft  wreath, 
Place  it  on  thy  Hero's  urn; 
Mercy,  in  foft  accents  breathe, 

"  He  never  made  this  bofom  mcui'u!'* 
.  •     Ev'ry  Virtue  here  attend, 
Bending  o'er  his  facred  earth ; 
Gratitude,  thy  influence  lend, 
Make  us  feel  his  mighty  worth  ! 
311.     Hold  not  back  the  facred  tear, 
Give  to  him  the  figh  fmcere, 

Who,  living,  liv'd  for  all.  - 
S«row, '  take  the  fclemrf  hour, 
Proftrate  to  thy  melt  ing  pow^r, 

.Let  hnrnble  mortals  fall. 
Come,  fable  Goddefs,  "take  the  for?, 
DP  voted  to  thy  dark  controul  ; 
C'-me,  take  our  hearts,  and  prefs  thera  deep—* 
Angel-s  may  joy,  but  M«UI  mufl  weep  I 


BY     AUTHORITY. 

A  PROCLAMATION  by  the  Prefident  of  the  United  States  of 

AMERICA. 

WHEREAS  the  Congrefs  of  the  United  States  have  thit 
day  refolded,  "  'That  it  be  recommended  to  the  People  of  the 
United  States  to  affemble  on  the  22d  Jay  of  February  next, 
in  fuch  numbers  and  manner  as  may  be  convenient,  publicly  to 
teflify  their  grief  for  the  death  of  General  GEORGE  WASH- 
INGTON, by  fwtable  eulogies,  orations^  and  difcourfes,  or 
by  public  prayers ;"  and,  "  that  the  President  be  requefted 
to  iffue  a  Proclamation  for  the  purpofe  of  carrying  the  fore- 
going Rcfolution  into  cffeft :"  Now  therefore,  I  JOHN 
ADAMS,  President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  do 
hereby  proclaim  the  fame  accordingly. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  the  feal  of  the  United  States,  at 
Philadelphia,   the  6t/i  day  of  January  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  \  800,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the  faid 
States  the  24//5.  JOHN  ADAMS, 

PHILADELPHIA,  Feb.  24. 

On  Saturday  lad,  the  22d  inft.  being  appointed  a  day 
of  mourning  throughout  the  United  States  for  the  death  of 
our  beloved  Chief,  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  the  fame 
was  refpectiully  obferved  in  this  city, 

P  At 


26  COLLECr/lNEA 

At  1 1  o'clock,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Carr  delivered  a  hatitf- 
fome  eulogium  on  the  character  of  the  illuftrious  Patriot, 
to  a  crouded  audience,  in  the  Catholic  Church  in  South 
Fourth-ftreet. 

At  1 2  o'clock,  the  Society  of  Cincinnati  aflembled  at 
the  State-houfe,  and  proceeded  to  the  German  Lutheran 
Church  in  North  Fourth-ftreet,  preceded  by  other  bodies 
in  the  following  order  :— 

The  firft  troop  of  Volunteer  Cavalry  difmounted  \ 
Mufic,  in  mourning  ; 

The  Artillery  ; 

General  Macpherfon ; 

Company  of  Grenadiers; 

Mufic,  playing  Wafhington's  March  ; 

Germantovvn  Light  Infantry ; 
The  fecond  Troop  of  Cavalry  ; 
The  Society  of  the  Cincinnati ; 
Officers  of  the  Army  and  Navy ; 

And,  Officers  of  the  Militia. 

Having  reached  the  Church,  the  whole,  procefllon  en* 
tered;  and,  after  folemn  vocal  and  inftrumental  mufic,  and 
prayers  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rogers,  a  very  eloquent  oration 
on  the  life  and  character  of  the  departed  Hero,  was  de- 
livered by  Major  Wm.  Jackfon,  one  of  the  Members  of 
the  Society  of  Cincinnati,  to  the  entire  fatisfa&ion  of  a 
very  numerous  and  refpectable  audience. 

MASONIC  PROCESSION. 

The  Ancient  Society  of  FreeMafons,  of  which  General 
Wafhington  was  a  much  honoured  brother,  formed  their 
proceflion  at  the  State-houfe,  and  moved,  at  i  o'clock, 
thro'  the  principal  flreets  to  Ziou  Church,  in  the  follow- 
ing order  :— 


$7 

Tyler,   with  drawn  fword  ; 
Entered  Apprentices,  two  and  two; 

Fellow  Crafts,  two  and  two; 
'  Matter  Mafons,   two    and   two  ; 
Deacons,  with  wands  tipt  with  filver  ; 

Secretary  and  Treafurer ; 

Wardens ; 

Paft  Matters,  two  and  two  ; 
Matter. 

After  the  Subordinate  Lodges, 
The  GRAND  LODGE,  preceded  by  Mufic ; 

Grand  Tyler,  wkh  drawn  fword  $ 

Twelve  Pad  Matters,  their  wands  tipt  with  filver  j 

Grand  Sword-bearer,    with  drawn  fword  ; 

Grand  Secretary,  with  a  fcroH ; 

Grand  Treafurer ; 

Grand  Wardens,  bearing  their  columns ; 

Three  lights  extinguished,  borne  by  three  Pad  Matters ; 

Jloly Bible  and  Square  and  Compafs,  borne  by  a  PaftMafter ; 

Rev.  Divine,  fupported  by  two  Pad  Matters ; 

Grand  Matter,  and  Deputy  Grand  Matter; 

Grand  Purfuivant,  with  drawn  fword  ; 

Four  Deacons  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  bearing  wands  tipt 
with  gold. 

In  the  centre  of  the  proceilion  was  exhibited  a  Morm^ 
rnent  in  honour  of  Wafhington,  borne  by  four  PaftMafters ; 
its  bafe  white  marble,  infcribed  Wafhington  Lodge,  No.  i, 
fupporting  a  golden  Urn,  furmounted  with  an  Eagle,  his 
-wings  expanded,  and  holding  in  his  beak  a  fcroll,  in  the 
figure  of  a  heart,  with  a  fuitable  infcription. 

The  proceflion  having  arrived  at  its  deftination,  opened 
to  the  right  and  left,  when  the  Grand  Lodge,  &c.  entered 
the  Church,  where  an  elegant  and  pathetic  eulogium  was 
pronounced  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Magaw,  D.D.to  a  very 
Crouded  and  fplendid  audience. 

E  3 


at  COLLECTANEA 

BALTIMORE,  Feb.  24. 

Conformably  to  the  recommendations  of  the  Executive 
of  the  United  States  as  well  as  of  this  State,  Saturday  was 
obferved  in  this  city  as  a  day  of  mourning,  humiliation  and 
prayer,  for  the  death  of  the  illuftrious  Patriot,  General 
GEORGE  WASHINGTON.  All  houfes  of  bufinefs  and  a- 
mufernent  were  clofed — the  noify  hum  of  induflry  ceafed, 
and  during  the  whole  day,  the  mofl:  devout  attention  to 
public  worfhip  teftified  a  high  and  juft  veneration  for  the 
memory  of  the  deceafed.  The  22d  of  February, which  we 
were  wont  to  celebrate  for  the  birth,  difplayed  unfeigned 
mourning  and  univerfal  forrow  for  the  lofs  of  our  friend 
and  father.  Truly  might  it  be  faid  that  our  joy  was  turn- 
ed into  mourning — that  a  mightyChief  was  fallen  in  Ifrael ! 

We  pretend  not  to  condemn  the  fplendid  pomp  of  woe, 
exhibited  in  many  places  on  this  occafion  by  military  or 
other  proceffions — but  we  were  pleafed  to  obferve  all  ranks, 
ages  and  fexes,  mingle  together  in  undiftinguifhed  groupes, 
and,  clad  in  fuitable  habiliments  of  woe,  throng  the  tem- 
ples of  the  Mod  High,  and  hang  with  rapturous  admira- 
tion on  the  divine  fervices  of  the  day.  Never  did  the  pul- 
pit exhibit  more  piety,  patriotifm,  talents  and  dignity—- 
never had  prayers,  adapted  to  the  occafion,  patriotic,  pi- 
ous and  fervent,  a  better  effed  on  fympathifing  aflemblies 
.—never  were  eulogiums  liftened  to  with  fuch  eager  atten- 
tion, by  enraptured  and  crowded  audiences,  who  feemed 
to  fay,  fpeak,  fpeak,  thou  canft  not  call  him  good  enough  I 
as  on  this  occafion,  where,  in  every  cafe  we  know  or  have 
learnt  of,  the  glowing  pencil  of  Raphael,  the  fire  of  De- 
mofthenes  and  the  eloquence  of  Cicero,  were  happily  join- 
ed in  pourtraying  the  life  and  character,  military  and  civil, 
pf  the  great,  the  inimitable,  the  godlike  WASHINGTON  ! 

RICH- 


WASHINGTON  I  ANA.  29 

RICHMOND,  Feb.  25. 

Saturday  lafl  being  the  day  ordered  by  Gen.  Pinckney 
to  pay  funeral  honours  to  the  memory  of  the  illuftrious 
GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  late  General  of  the  Armies  of 
the  United  States,  they  were  peformed  under  the  direction 
of  Lieut.  Col.  Bentley  of  the  yth  Regiment,  in  a  manner 
that  excited  the  admiration  of  every  beholder.  Befides 
the  number  of  perfons  who  joined  the  proceffion,  which 
mutt  have  exceeded  1000,  there  could  not  be  lefs  than 
5000  fpeSators. 

At  day- break,  16  cannon  were  fired  by  Capt.  Myers's 
Artillery,  and  half-hour  guns  till  fun-fet  —  Minute  guns 
were  fired  during  the  proceffion  and  ceremonial. 

At  12  o'clock,  the  Bier  was  received  by  the  troops  in 
line,  with  prefented  arms,  and  colours  faluting. — The  pro- 
ceflion  began  in  the  Capitol  fquare,  and  proceeded  to  the 
Church  on  the  hill  in  the  following  order  : 

Capt.  Auftin's  troop,   drawn  fwords  with  black  crape; 
Capt.Richardfon's  light  infantry  and  Capt.M'Rae's 

grenadiers,   arms  reverfed; 

Drums  and  Fifes  muffled,  playing  the  Dead  March  j 

The  General's  horfe  drefled  in  black  ; 

Band  of  Mufic  and  Singers; 

The  Clergy  and  Orator  ; 
Col.  Vandewall,       f      3     ")       Col.  Gamble, 


Heath,  I      §     J      Gen.  Wood; 

(Carried  by  four  Serjeants) 

The  Cincinnati ; 

The  Executive ; 

The  State  Judiciary ; 

The  7th  Regiment  of  the  United  States; 

The 


|P  COLLECTANEA 

The  Civil  Officers  of  the  Federal  Government  $ 

The  Corporate  Body  of  the  City   of  Richmond  ; 

Officers  of  the  Army  and  Militia  not  on  duty; 

Mafonic  Societies  ; 

Citizens. 

When  the  Cavalry  arrived  at  the  place  appointed  (op* 
pofite  the  fpot  reprefenting  the  place  of  interment)  the 
\vhole  line  halted ;  the  platoons  preceding  the  Bier  wheel- 
ed and  formed  in  line  ;  the  cavalry  drcfted  with  the  rear 
rank;  and  the  light  infantry  and  grenadiers  faced  inwards 
• — arms  reverfed. 

The  Bier,  with  the  band  of  mufic  and  fingers,  the 
Clergy  and  Orator  in  front,  pafled  through  the  open  ranks 
\vhh  folemn  mufic  to  the  place  of  interment ;  the  rear  of 
the  procefiion  pafled  through  in  like  manner. 

The  Bier  being  placed  on  the  fpot  reprefenting  ths 
place  of  interment,  the  pall  bearers,  chief  mourners,  Exe- 
cutive and  Judiciary,  ranged  in  a  line  at  each  end  of  the 
Bier;  the  pall  bearers  and  chief  mourners  at  the  head, 
the  Executive  and  Judiciary  at  the  foot. 

The  grenadiers  and  infantry  reverfed  arms,  the  front 
rank  facing  to  the  right  about,  and  rear  rank  clofed  to  the 
front ;  the  whole  was  then  faced  to  the  right,  and  marched 
on  (mufic  playing  the  Dead  March)  between  the  columns 
of  platoons  and  cavalry,  until  they  encircled  the  Bier  ; 
they  then  turned  to  the  front,  halted,  and  refted  on  their, 
arms  during  the  ceremony. 

An  oration  was  now  delivered  by  the  Rev  Mr.  Blair  ; 
then  folemn  mufic,  both    vocal  and  inftrumental;  after 
.  -which  three  vollies  were  fired  over  the  Bier. 

The  ceremonial  being  ended,  the  whole  was  again  put> 
in  motion,  the  mufic  playing  Wafhington's  March,  and 
the  proceifion  returned  to  the  fcjuare  of  the  Capitol. 

PETERS- 


WASHINGTON  I  ANA.  51 

PETERSBURG^  Feb.  25. 

Saturday  lad,  being  the  day  appointed  by  the  Federal 
Government,  for  the  people  of  the  United  States  publicly 
to  teflify  their  grief  for  the  death  of  their  beloved  fellow- 
citizen,  General  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  a  very  nume- 
rous and  refpe&able  congregation  aflembled  at  Blandford 
Church  for  that  purpofe. 

Prayers  were  read  by  the  Rev.  And.  Syme,  affifted  by 
the  Rev.  Wm.  Harrifon  —  After  which,  the  audience  (by- 
particular  requeft)  were  addrefled  in  a  fenfible  difcourfe  by 

Geo.  K.Taylor,  Efq. After  giving  a  rapid  flcetch  of 

the  General's  early  life,  and  then  thofe  great  and  ever- 
memorable  actions  which  afterwards,  under  the  guidance 
of  Divine  Providence,  marked  him  as  the  founder  and  pro- 
tector of  AMERICAN  LIBERTY,  Mr.  Taylor  wifely  re- 
commended to  his  auditors,  et  that  fmce  "WASHINGTON 
was  no  more,  and  that  they  could  not  derive  benefit  from 
his  perfonal  example,  to  follow  his  excellent  advice.  Let 
every  family,  and  every  man,  attentively  perufe,  and  con- 
flantly  keep  in  view,  his  Farewell  Addrefs.  Whilft  the 
principles  there  inculcated  are  fteadily  purfued,  the  Ame- 
ricans may  preferve  their  country  in  peace  and  profperity, 
and  fecure  their  rights  both  civil  and  political — party  difcord 
and  angry  contentions  will  ceafe,  local  prejudices  will  give 
way  to  the  general  good,  and  every  Citizen  will  fed  the 
virtues  of  a  WASHINGTON  in  his  own  breaft." 

Mr.  Taylor  concluded  his  difcourfe  with  a  well  timed 
admonition  to  his  hearers,  to  copy  the  piety  ami  refp€c~t 
for  Religion  which  pervaded  and  dignified  all  the  actions  of 
the  illudrious  PATRIOT — Ke  particularly  exhorted  "  the 
young  men  of  the  prefent  day,"  not  to  indulge  either  a  real 
or  affe&ed  contempt  for  all  religious  opinions  and  duties ; 

a  con- 


3*.  WASHINGTON  IAN  A. 

aconduft  which  will  inevitably  be  ruinous  to  themfelve:^ 
and,  finally,  be  deftruaive  of  the  liberty  and  happinefs  of 
their  Country.* 

*  This  oration,  or  difcourfe,  lafted  about  40  minutes— Mr.Taylor 
modeftly  declined  an  application  to  let  it  appear  in  print. 


[Befide  the  articles  inferted  in  this  Colieftion,  there  vere  fer- 
itums,  orations,  or  proceffions,  inBolton,  New  York,  Baltimore,  Nor- 
folk, Charleftown,  and  every  city  and  town  in  the  United  States,  all 
expreffive  of  the  deep  and  heart-felt  veneration  in  which  the  Amen* 
can  people  held  their  beloved  Friend  and  Fellow  Citizen.] 


*  The  following  beautiful  Poem  was  written  by  Dr.  AIKEN  (au- 
thor of  feveral  veiy  refpeclable  books)  an  Englifnman,  and  J'efiding1 
in  England — who,  when  Republicanism  is  become  a  theme  of  re- 
proach, and  when  the  Sovereigns  of  Europe  are  ftraining  every 
nerve  to  eradicate  it  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  boldly  dared  to 
celebrate  the  virtues  of  the  Republican  Sage  and  Hero  of  America ! 


To  HIS  EXCELLENCY  GEOHGE  WASHINGTON, 
President  of  tie  United  States  of  America. 


of  that  Pyramid,  whofe  folid  bafe 
Refts  firmly  founded  on  a  Nation's  truft, 
Which,  while  the  gorgeous  palace  finks  in  dull, 
Shall  Hand  fublime,  and  fill  its  ample  fpace  : 
ELECTED  CHIEF  OF  FREEMEN!  —  Greater  far 

Than  Kings,  whofe  glittering  parts  are  fix'd  by  birth 
NanVd  by  thy  Country's  voice  for  long-try  'd  worth, 
Her  crown  in  peace,  as  once  her  fhield  in  war! 

Deign,  WASHINGTON,  to  hear  a  British  lyre, 
That  ardent  greets  thee  with  applaufive  lays, 
And  to  the  PATRIOT  HSRO  homage  pays. 
O,  would  the  Mufe  immortal  flrains  infpire, 
That  high  beyond  all  Greek  and  Roman  fame, 
Might  foar  to  times  unborn,  thy  purer,  nobler  Nane! 


His  La/I  Will  and  Tejlament. 


VIRGINIA,   Fairfax 

J,  GEORGE  DENE  ALE,  Clerk  of  Fairfax  County  Court,  do  Cer- 
tify, That  tfiefub/eqitent  Copy  of  the  La.fi  Will  and  Teftame  nt  of 
GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  decea/ed,  late  Prefident  of  the 
United  States  cf  America,  with  the  Schedule  annexed,  is  a 
true  Copy  from  the  Original  recorded  in  my  Office. 

In  Teftrmony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  fct  my  Hand  this 
z^d  da,y  of  January  1800. 

GEO.  DENEALE,  C.F.C* 


IN  THE  NAME  OF  GOD,    AMEN. 

1  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  of  Mount  Vermn,  a 
Citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  lately  Prefident  of  the 
fame,  Do  make,  ordain,  and  declare  this  Inftrument,  which 
is  written  with  my  own  hand,  and  every  page  thereof  fub- 
fcribed  with  my  name*,  to  be  my  LAST  WILL  AND 
TESTAMENT,  revoking  all  others. 

Imprimus — All  my  debts,  of  which  there  are  but  few, 
and  none  of  magaitude,  are  to  be  punctually  and  fpeedily 
paid ;  and  the  legacies  herein  after  bequeathed,  are  to  be 
difcharged  as  foon  as  circumftances  will  permit,  and  in  the 
manner  directed. 

Item — To  my  dearly  beloved  wife  Martha  Wafinngton, 
I  give  and  bequeath  the  ufe,  profit,  and  benefit  of  my  whole 
cflate,  real  and  perfonal,  for  the  term  of  her  natural  life, 
except  fuch  parts  thereof  as  are  fpecially  difpofed  of  here- 

F  after 

In  the  original  manufcript,  George  Washington's  name  is  writ- 
ten at  the  bottom  of  every  page. 


34  HIS    LASr    WILL 

after.  My  improved  lot  in  the  town  of  Alexandria,  fitct' 
ated  on  Pitt  and  Cameron-ftreets,  I  give  to  her  and  her 
heirs  for  ever  ;  as  I  alfo  do  my  houfehold  and  kitchen  fur- 
niture of  every  fort  and  kind,  with  the  liquors  and  grocer- 
ies which  may  be  on  hand  at  the  time  of  my  deceafe,  to 
be  ufed  and  difpofed  of  as  me  may  think  proper. 

Item — Upon  the  decafe  of  my  wife,  it  is  my  will  and 
defire,  that  all  the  {laves  which  I  hold  in  my  oivn  fight  % 
fhall  receive  their  freedom.  To  emancipate  them  during 
her  life,  would,  tho'  earneftly  wifhed  by  me,  be  attended 
with  fuch  infuperable  difficulties  on  account  of  their  rnter- 
rnixture  by  marriages  with  the  dower  negroes,  as  to  excite 
the  mod:  painful  fenfations,  if  not  difagreeable  confequen- 
ces  to  the  latter,  while  both  defcriptions  are  in  the  occu- 
pancy, of  the  fame  proprietor,  it  not  being  in  rny  power, 
under  the  tenure  by  which  the  dower  negroes  are  held,  to 
manumit  them.  And  whereas  among  thofe  who  wiif  re- 
ceive freedom  according  to  this  devife,  there  may  be  forne 
who,  from  old  age  or  bodily  infirmities,  and  others,  who, 
on  account  of  their  infancy,  will  be  unable  to  fupport  them- 
ielves,  it  is  my  will  and  defire,  that  all  who  come  under 
the  firtt  and  fecond  defcription,  fhall  be  comfortably  cloth- 
ed and  fed  by  my  heirs  while  they  live ;  and  that  fuch  of 
the  latter  defcription  as  have  no  parents  living,  or,  if  liv- 
ing, are  unable  or  unwilling  to  provide  for  them,  (hall  be 
bound  by  the  Court  until  they  dial  I  arrive  at  the  age  of 
25  years ;  and  in  cafes  where  no  record  can  be  produced, 
whereby  their  ages  can  be  afcertained,  the  judgement  of 
the  Court,  upon  its  own  view  of  the  fubjecl,  (hall  be  ade- 
quate and  final.  The  negroes  thus  bound,  are  (by  their 
matters  or  miftrefies)  to  be  taught  to  read  and  write,  and 
be  brought  up  to  feme  ufeful  occupation,  agreeably  to  the 
laws  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia  providing  for  the 

fup- 


AND    TESTAMENT.  35 

fupport  of  orphan  and  other  poor  children.  And  I  do 
hereby  exprefsly  forbid  the  fale  or  tranfportation  out  of 
the  faid  Commonwealth,  of  any  (lave  I  may  die  poflefled 
of  under  any  pretence  whatfoever.  And  I  do  moreover 
moft  pointedly  and  moft  folemnly  enjoin  it  upon  my  Exe- 
cutors hereafter  named,  or  the  furvivor  of  them,  to  fee 
that  this  claufe  refpedting  flaves,  and  every  part  thereof, 
be  religioufly  fulfilled  at  the  epoch  at  which  it  is  diretled 
to  take  place,  without  evafion,  negle£r,  or  delay,  after  the 
crops  which  may  then  be  on  the  ground  are  harvefled, 
particularly  as  it  refpecls  the  aged  and  infirm  ;  feeing  that 
a  regular  and  permanent  fund  be  eftablimed  for  their  flip- 
port,  as  long  as  there  are  fubje£h  requiring  it,  not  trufting 
to  the  uncertain  provision  mac-le  by  individuals.— And,  to 
my  mulatto  man  William  (calling  himfelf  Wm.Lee]  I  give 
immediate  freedom,  or,  if  he  mould  prefer  it  (on  account 
of  the  accidents  which  have  befallen  him,  and  which  have 
rendered  him  incapable  of  walking  or  of  any  a&ive  em- 
ployment) to  remain  in  the  fituation  he  now  is,  it  (hall  be 
optional  in  him  to  do  fo ;  in  either  cafe,  however,  I  allow 
him  an  annuity  of  30  dollars  during  his  natural  life,  which 
fliall  be  independent  of  the  victuals  and  clothes  he  has  been 
accuftomed  to  receive,  if  he  chufes  the  laft  alternative ; 
but  in  full  with  his  freedom,  if  he  prefers  the  fir  ft ;  and 
this  I  give  him  as  a  teftimony  of  my  fenfe  of  his  attachment 
to  me,  and  for  his  faithful  fervices  during  the  Revolution- 
ary War. 

Item — To  the  Truftees  (Governors,  or  by  whatfoever 
other  name  they  may  be  defignated)  of  the  Academy  in 
the  town  of  Alexandria,  I  give  and  bequeath,  in  trull, 
4000  dollars,  or,  in  other  words,  20  of  the  (hares  which  I 
hold  in  the  bank  of  Alexandria,  towards  the  fupport  of  a 
Free  School,  eflablifhed  at,  and  annexed  to,  the  faid  Aca- 
for  the  purpofe  of  educating  orphan  children,  or  the 

chil- 


36  HIS    LAST    WILL 

children  of  fuch  other  poor  and  indigent  perfons,  as  are 
unable  to  accomplifh  it  with  their  own  means,  and  who, 
in  the  judgement  of  the  Truftees  of  the  faid  Seminary,  are 
bed  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  this  donation.  The  afore- 
^faid  20  (hares  I  give  and  bequeath  in  perpetuity  ;  the  divi- 
dends only  of  which  are  to  be  drawn  for,  and  applied  by 
the  faid  Truftees,  for  the  time  being,  for  the  ufes  above- 
mentioned;  the  (lock  to  remain  entire  and  untouched, 
unlefs  indications  of  failure  of  the  faid  bank  (hould  be  fo 
apparent,  or  a  difcontinuance  thereof,  fhould  render  a  re- 
moval of  this  fund  neceflary.  In  either  of  thefe  cafes,  the 
amount  of  the  (lock  here  devifed  is  to  be  vefted  in  fome 
other  bank,  or  public  inftitution,  whereby  the  intereft  may 
•with  regularity  and  certainty  be  drawn  and  applied  as  a- 
bove.  And,  to  prevent  mifconception,  my  meaning  is> 
and  is  hereby  declared  to  be,  that  thefe  20  fliares  are  in 
lieu  of,  and  not  in  addition  to,  the  icool  given  by  a  miflive 
letter  fome  years  ago,  in  confequence  whereof,  an  annuity 
of  50!.  has  fmce  been  paid  towards  the  fupport  of  this 
inftitution. 

Item— Whereas  by  a  law  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Virginia,  enafted  in  the  year  1785,  the Legiflature  thereof 
\vas  pleafed  (as  an  evidence  of  its  approbation  of  the  fer- 
vices  I  had  rendered  the  public  during  the  Revolution, 
and  partly,  I  believe,  in  confideration  of  my  having  fug- 
gefled  the  vaft  advantages  which  the  community  would 
derive  from  the  extenfion  of  its  inland  navigation  under 
Xegiflative  patronage)  to  prefent  me  with  100  fhares  of 
TOO  dollars  each,  in  the  incorporated  Company  eflablifhed 
for  the  purpofe  of  extending  the  navigation  of  James  River 
from  the  tide- water  to  the  mountains;  and  alfo  with  50 
fh ares  of  rool  fterling  each  in  the  corporation  of  another 
Company  likewife  eftabliihed  for  the  fimilar  purpofe  of 

open- 


AND    TESTAMENT.  37 

opening  the  navigation  of  the  river  Potomac  from  the  tide- 
water to  Fort  Cumberland  ;  the  acceptance  of  which,  al- 
tho'  the  offer  was  highly  honourable  and  grateful  to  my 
feelings,  was  refufcd  as  inconfiftent  with  a  principle  which 
I  had  adopted,  and  had  never  departed  from — namely,  not 
to  receive  pecuniary  compenfation  for  any  fervices  1  could 
render  my  Country  in  its  arduous  druggie  with  Great  Bri- 
tain for  its  rights,  and  becaufel  had  evaded  fimilar  propo- 
fitions  from  other  States  in  the  Union :  Adding  to  this  re- 
iufal,  however,  an  intimation,  that,  if  it  Ihould  be  the 
pleafure  of  the  Legiflature  to  permit  me  to  appropriate 
the  faid  (hares  to  Public  Ufcs^,  I  would  receive  them  on 
thofe  terms  with  due  fenfibility  ;  and  this  it  having  con- 
fen-ted  to,  in  flattering  terms,  as  will  appear  by  a  fubfequent 
law  and  fundry  refolutions,  in  the  mod  ample  and  honour- 
able manner — I  proceed,  after  this  recital,  for  the  more 
correct  underftanding  of  the  cafe,  to  declare,  That  as  it 
has  always  been  a  fource  of  ferious  regret  with  me,  to  fee 
the  youth  of  thefe  United  States  fent  to  foreign  countries 
for  the  purpofes  of  Education,  often  before  their  minds 
were  formed,  or  they  had  imbibed  any  adequate  ideas  of 
the  happinefs  of  their  own,  contracting,  too  frequently, 
not  only  habits  of  difiipation  and  extravagance,  but  princi* 
pies  unfriendly  to  Republican  Government,  and  to  the  true 
and  gen-iine  Liberties  of  Mankind 9  which,  thereafter,  are 
rarely  overcome  —  For  thefe  reafons,  it  has  been  my 
ardent  wifh  to  fee  a  plan  devifed,  on  a  liberal  fcale,  which 
would  have  a  tendency  to  fpread  fyftematic  ideas  through 
all  parts  of  this  riling  Empire,  thereby  to  do  away  local 
attachments  and  (late  prejudices,  as  far  as  the  nature  of 
things  would,  or  indeed  ought  to  admit  from  our  national 
Councils.  Looking  anxioudy  forward  to  the  accompliOi- 
m.ep.t  of  fo  defirable  an  object  as  this  is  (in  my  eflimation) 

my 


SS  JUS    LAS?    WILL 

my  mind  has  not  been  able  to  contemplate  any  plan  more  • 
likely  to  effea  the  meafure,  than  the  '  eftablilhment  of  a 
UNIVERSITY  in  a  central  part  of  the  United  Slates,  to 
which  the  youths  of  fortune  and  talents  from  all  parts 
thereof  might  be  fent  for  the  completion  of  their  educa- 
tion in  all  the  branches  of  polite  Literature,  in  the  Arts 
and  Sciences,  in  acquiring  knowledge  in  the  principles  of 
Politics  and  good  Government,  and,  as  a  matter  of  infi- 
nite importance  in  my  judgement,  by  aflbciating  with  each 
other,  and  forming  frkndftnps  in  juvenile  years,  be  enabled 
to  free  themfelves,  in  a  proper  degree,  from  thofe  local 
prejudices  and  habitual  jealoufies  which  have  juft  been 
mentioned,  and  which,  when  carried  to  excefs,  are  never- 
failing  fources  of  difquietude  to  the  public  mind,  and  preg- 
nan{  of  mifchievous  confcquences  to  this  country.— Under 
thefe  impreflions,  fo  fully  dilated, 

Item—I  give  and  bequeath,  in  perpetuity,  the  50  (hares 
which  I  hold  in  the  Potomac  Company  (under  the  afere- 
faid  Acts  of  the  Legiflature  of  Virginia)  towards  the  en- 
dowment of  a  UNIVERSITY,  to  be  eftablifhed  within  the 
limits  of  the  Diftrid  of  Columbia,  under  the  aufpices  of 
the  General  Government,  if  that  Government  fhould  in- 
cline to  extend  a  foftering  hand  towards  it;  and  until  fuch 
Seminary  is  eftablifhed,  and  the  funds  arifingon  thefe  (hares 
fhall  be  required  for  its  fupport,  my  further  will  and  de- 
fire  is,  that  the  profit  accruing  therefrom,  (hall,  whenever 
the  dividends  are  made,  be  laid  out  in  purchafing  (lock  in 
the  Bank  of  Columlia,  tor  feme  other  bank,  at  the  difcre- 
tion  of  my  Executors,  or  by  the  Treafurer  of  the  United 
States  fr-r  the  time  being,  under  the  direction  of  Congrefs, 
provided  that  honourable  Body  mould  patronize  the 
meafure;  and  the  dividends  proceeding  from  the  purchafe 

of  fuch  flock  are  to  be  vetted  in  more  flock,  and  fo  on, 

until 


AND    TESTAMENT.  33. 

until  a  fum  adequate  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  objecl 
is  obtained,  of  which  I  have  not  the  fmalleft  doubt  before 
many  years  pafs  away,  even  if  no  aid  or  encouragement  is 
given  by  legislative  authority,  or  from  any  other  fource. 

ftem — T he  hundred  fhares  which  I  hold  in  the  James 
River  Company,  I  have  given,  and  now  confrm,  in  per- 
petuity, to  and  for  the  ufe  and  benefit  of  Liberty  Hall  A- 
cademy,  in  the  County  of  Rockbridge,  in  the  Common- 
wealth of  Virginia. 

Item — I  releafe,  exonerate,  and  difcharge  the  eflate  of 
my  deceafed  brother,  Samuel  Wnjbington,  from  the  pay- 
ment of  the  money  which  is'  due  to  me  for  the  land  I  fold 
to  Philip  Pendleton  (lying  in  the  county  of  Berkeley),  who 
afligned  the  fame  to  him,  the  faid  Samuel,  who,  by  agree- 
ment, was  to  pay  me  therefor  :  And  whereas  by  feme 
contract  (the  purport  of  which  was  never  communicated 
to  me)  between  the  faid  Samuel  and  his  fon  Thornton  W&Jk- 
ington,  the  latter  became  poflefled  of  the  aforefaid  land, 
without  any  conveyance  having  paflTed  from  me,  either  to 
the  faid  Pendletw,  the  faid  Samuel,  or  the  faid  Thorntcn, 
and  without  any  confederation  having  been  made,  by  which 
negleft,  neither  the  legal  nor  equitable  title  has  been  ali- 
enated, it  refts  therefore  with  me,  to  declare  my  intentions 
concerning  the  premifes;  and  thefe  are,  to  give  and  be- 
queath the  faid  land  to  whomfoever  the  faid  Thorn.  V/efo- 
ington  (who  is  alfo  dead)  devifed  the  fame,  or  to  his  heirs 
for  ever,  if  he  died  inteftate,  exonerating  the  eftate  of  the 
faid  Thvrntm,  equally  with  that  of  the  faid  Samuel,  from 
payment  of  the  purchafe  money,  which,  with  intereft,  a- 
greeably  to  the  original  contract  with  the  faid  PendletGtt9 
would  amount  to  more  than  i.oool.  And  whereas  two 
other  fons  of  my  faid  deceafed  brother,  Samuel,  namely, 
George  Stepfoe  pyafiingion  and  Lawrence  Augujllne 


40  HIS    LAST   WILL 

ington,  were,  by  the  deceafe  of  thofe  to  whofe  care  thcv 
were  committed,  brought  under  my  protection,  and,  in 
confequence,  have  occafioned  advances  on  my  part  for 
their  education  at  college  and  other  fchools,  and  for  their 
board,  clothing,  and  other  incidental  expences,  to  the  a- 
mount  of  near  5000  dollars,  over  and  above  the  Turns  fur- 
nifihed  by  their  etlate,  which  fum  it  may  be  inconvenient 
for  them  or  their  father's  eftate  to  refund— I  do,  for 
thefc  reafons,  acquit  them  and  the  faid  eftate  from  the 
payment  thereof,  my  intention  being,  that  all  accounts 
between  them  and  me,  and  their  father's  eftate  and  me, 
fhall  ftand  balanced. 

Item~—  The  balance  doe  to  me  from  the  eftate  of  Ear' 
thotomew  Dandridgc,  deceafcd  (my  wife's  brother)  and 
on  the  firfl:  day  of  October  179$,  to 
appear  by  an  account  rendered  by  his  de- 
ceafed  fon,  John  Dandridge,  who  was  the  acting  executor 
of  his  father's  will)  I  releafe  and  acquit  from  the  payment 
thereof.  And  the  Negroes  (then  33  in  number)  formerly 
belonging  to  the  faid  eftate,  who  were  taken  in  execution, 
fold,  and  purchafed  in  on  my  account,  in  the  year  — , 
and  ever  fmce  have  remained  in  the  poffefllon  and  to  the 
life  of  Mary,  widow  of  the  faid  Bart.  Dandridge,  with 
their  increafe,  it  is  my  will  and  defire,  fhall  continue  and 
be  in  her  poffeffion,  without  paying  hire,  or  making  com- 
penfation  for  the  fame,  for  the  time  part  or  to  come,  dur- 
ing her  natural  life ;  at  the  expiration  of  which,  I  direct, 
that  all  of  them  who  are  40  years  old  and  upwards,  fhall 
receive  their  freedom  ;  all  under  that  age  and  above  1 6, 
fhall  ferve  7  years,  and  no  longer  ;  and  all  under  16  years 
(hall  ferve  until  they  are  25  years  of  age,  and  then  be  free. 
And  to  avoid  difputes  refpe&ing  the  ages  of  any  of  thefe 
Negroes,  they  are  to  be  taken  into  the  Court  of  thcCounty 


tnolomeiv   jJandru, 

_ 

which  amounted, 
425!.   (as  will  apj 


AND    TESTAMENT.  41 

in  which  they  refute,  and  the  judgement  thereof,  in  this 
relation,  (hall  be  final,  and  record  thereof  made,  which 
may  be  adduced  as  evidence  at  any  time  thereafter,  if 
difputes  mould  arife  concerning  the  fame.  And  I  further 
direft,  that  the  heirs  of  the  faid  Bart.  Dandridgs  (hall, 
equally,  (hare  the  benefits  arifmg  from  the  fervices  of  the 
faid  negroes,  according  to  the  tenor  of  this  devife,  upon 
the  deceafe  of  their  mother. 

Item  —  If  C&arles  Carter,  who  intermarried  with  my 
niece  Betty  Lewis,  is  not  fufficiently  fecured  in  the  title  to 
the  lots  he  had  of  me  in  the  town  of  Frederidhurg,  it  i-S 
my  will  and  defire,  that  my  Executors  (hall  make  fuch 
conveyances  of  them  as  the  law  requires  to  render  it  per* 


Item  —  To  my  nephew  William  Augujllne  Waft/ington, 
and  his  heirs  (if  he  mould  conceive  them  to  be  objects 
worth  profecuting)  a  lot  in  the  town  of  Manchefter  (op- 
pofite  to  Richmond)  'No.  265,  drawn  on  my  fole  account, 
and  alfo  the  tenth  of  i  or  200  acre  lots,  and  two  or  three 
half-acre  lots,  in  the  city  and  vicinity  of  Richmond,  drawn 
in  partnermip  with  nine  others,  all  in  the  Lottery  of  the 
deceafed  Wm.  Byrd,  are  given;  as  is  alfo  a  lot  which  I 
purchafed  of  John  Hood,  conveyed  by  Wm.  Willie  and 
Sam.  Gordon,  truftees  of  the  faid  John  Hood,  numbered 
1  39,  in  the  town  of  Edinburgh,  in  the  county  of  Prince 
George,  flate  of  Virginia. 

Item  —  To  my  nephew  BufhrodWafliington,  I  give  and 
bequeath  all  the  papers  in  my  poflefllon  which  relate  to 
my  civil  and  military  adminiflration  of  the  affairs  of  this 
Country;  I  leave  to  him  alfo  fuch  of  my  private  papers 
as  are  worth  preferving  ;  and,  at  the  deceafe  of  my  wife, 
and  before,  if  (he  is  not  inclined  to  retain  them,  I  give  and 
bequeath  my  library  of  books  and  pamphlets  of  every 
Vind.  G 


4*  HIS    LAST    WILL 

Item — Having  fold  lands  which  I  poflefied  in  the  flai'? 
of  Pennfylvania,  and  part  of  a  tract  held  in  equal  right 
with  George  Clinton,  late  Governor  of  New  York,  in  the 
{late  of  New  York;  my  Chare  of  land  and  intereft  in  the 
Great  Difmal  Swamp,  and  a  tract  of  land  which  I  owned 
in  the  county  of  Gloucefter — with-holding  the  legal  titles 
thereto,  until  the  confideration-money  would  be  paid — 
and  having  moreover  leafed,  and  conditionally  fold  (as  will 
appear  by  the  tenor  cf  the  faid  leafes)  all  my  lands  upon 
the  Great  Kenhawa,  and  a  tract  upon  Difficult  Run  in  the 
county  of  Loudon,  it  is  my  will  and  direction,  that  when- 
foever  the  contracts  are  fully  and  reflectively  complied 
•with,  according  to  the  fpirit,  true  intent,  and  meaning 
thereof,  on  the  part  of  the  purchafers,  their  heirs  or  affigns, 
that  then,  and  in  that  cafe,  conveyances  are  to  be  made, 
agreeable  to  the  terms  of  the  faid  contracts,  and  the  money 
ariftng  therefrom,  when  paid,  to  be  vefled  in  bank  ftcck  ; 
the  dividends  whereof,  as  of  that  alfo  which  is  already 
\efled  therein,  is  to  inure  to  my  faid  wife  during  her  life, 
but  the  flock  itfelf  is  to  remain  arid  be  fubject  to  the  ge- 
neral diflribution  hereafter  directed. . 

ltem — T 'o  'ihzEarl  of Buchan  Ire-commit  "  the  Box 
made  of  the  Oak  that  fheltered  the  brave  Sir  Wm  Wallace 
after  the  battle  of  Falkirk,"  prefented  to  me  by  his  Lord- 
fhip  in  terms  too  flattering  for  me  to  repeat,  with  a  re- 
queft  "  to  pafs  it,  on  the  event  of  my  deceafe,  to  the  man 
in  my  country  who  mould  appear  to  merit  it  beft,  upon 
the  fame  conditions  that  have  induced  him  to  fend  it  to 
1Tie." — Whether  eafy  or  not,  to  felect  THE  MAN  who 
mi^ht  comport  with  his  Lordmip's  opinion  in  this  refpect, 
is  not  for  me  to  fay;  but  conceiving  that  no  difpofition  of 
this  valuable  curiofity  can  be  more  eligible  than  the  re- 
commitment of  it  to  his  own  cabinet,  agreeably  to  the  ori- 
ginal 


AND    TESTAMENT.  43. 

ginal  defign  of  the  Goldfmi'ths'  Company  cf  Edinburgh, 
who  prefented  it  to  him,  and,  at  his  requeft,  confemeci 
that  it  (hould  be  transferred  to  me — 1  do  give  and  bequeath 
the  fame  to  his  Lordlhip;  and,  in  cafe  of  his'deceaCe,  to 
his  heir,  with  my  grateful  thanks  for  the  diftinguilhed:hon- 
our  of  prefenting  it  me,  and  more  efpecially  for  the  fa- 
vourable fentiments  with  which  he  accompanied  it. 

ltem, — To  my  brother,  Charles  Wafoington,  I  give  and. 
bequeath  the  gold-headed  Cane  left  me  by  Dr.  Franklin, 
in  his  will.  I  add  nothing  to  it,  becaufe  of  the  ample 
provifion  I  have  made  for  his  ifiue.  To  the  acquaintances 
and  friends  of  my  juvenile  years,  Lawrence  Wafiingtm 
and  Robert  Waftitgton,  of  Cliotanck,  1  give  my  other  two 
gold-headed  Canes,  having  my  arms  engraved  on  them  ; 
and  to  each  (as  they  will  be  nfeful  where  they  live)  I  leave 
one  of  the  Spy  GlafTes,  which  conftituted  part  of  ray. 
equipage  during  the  late  war.  To  my  compatriot  in  arms 
and  old  and  intimate  friend,  Dr.  Craik,  I  give  my  Bureau 
or,  as  the  Cabinet  Makers  call  it,  Tambour  Secretary) 
and  the  circular  Chair  an  appendage  cf  my  Study.  To 
Dr.  David  Stuart,  I  give  my  large  Shaving  and  DreiTing 
Table,  and  rny  Telefcope.  To  the  Reverend,  now  Bry- 
an Lord  Fairfax,  I  give  a  Bible,  in  three  large  folio  vol- 
umes, with  notes,  prefented  to  me  by  the  P,t,  Rev.  Tfo- 
inas  Wilfon,  Bjfhop  of  Sodor  and  Man.  To  General  De 
la  Fayette,  I  give  a  pair  of  finely  wrought  Steel  Piftols, . 
taken  from  the  enemy  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  To  my 
Sifters  in  Law,  Hannah  Wajbington  and  Mildred  Wajhington 
— to  my  friends  Eleanir  Stuart,  Hannah  Wafhingtcn,  of 
Fairneld,  and  Elizabeth  Wajbington  of  Hayfield,  I  give, 
each,  a  Mourning  Ring  of  the  value  of  100  dollars. 
Thefe  bequefls  are  not  made  for  the  intrinfic  value  of 
ttjem,  but  as  nnementcs  of  my  etlccm  and  regard.  To 

G  2  TV 


44  HIS    LAST    WILL 

Tobias  Lear,  I  give  the  life  of  the  farm  v/hich  he  now  hold*, 
in  virtue  of  a  leafe  from  rne  to  him  and  his  deceafed  wife 
(for  and  during  their  natural  lives)  free  from  rent  during 
}»is  life ;  at  the  expiration  of  which,  it  is  to  be  difpofed  of 
as  is  herein  after  dire&ed.  To  Sally  B.  Hay  me  (a  diftant 
relation  of  mine)  I  give  and  bequeath  300  dollars.  To 
Sarah  Green,  daughter  of  the  deceafed  Yhomas  Bifbop,  and 
to  Ann  Walker,  daughter  of  John  Alton,  alfo  deceafed,  I 
give  each  100  dollars,  in  confederation  of  the  attachment 
of  their  fathers  to  me,  each  of  whom  having  lived  nearly 
forty  years  in  my  family.  To  each  of  my  Nephews, 
William  Augufline  Wafbingtvn,  George  Lewis,  George  Step- 
is*  Wafhington,  Bufirod  Wafiingtsn,  and  Samuel  Wajbing- 
tori,  I  give  one  of  the  Swords,  or  Cutteaux,  of  which  I 
may  die  pofTefTed ;  and  they  are  to  choofe  in  the  order 
they  are  named.  Thefe  fwords  are  accompanied  with  an 
injunction,  not  to  unfheath  them  for  the  purpofe  of  med- 
ding  blood,  except  it  be  for  felf- defence,  or  in  defence  of 
their  Country  and  its  Rights ;  and  in  the  latter  cafe,  to 
keep  them  unfrieathed,  and  prefer  falling  with  them  in 
their  hands  to  the  relinquifhment  thereof. 

AND  NOW,  having  gone  through  threfe  fpecific  Devi- 
fes,  with  explanations  for  the  more  corred  understanding 
of  the  meaning  and  defign  of  them,  I  proceed  to  the  dif- 
tribution  of  the  more  important  parts  of  my  Eftare,  in 
manner  following  :— 

Firjl — To  my  nephew,  Bufirod  Wafbington,  and  his 
heirs,  (partly  in  confideration  of  an  intimation  to  his  de- 
ceafed father,  while  we  were  bachelors,  and  he  had  kindly 
undertaken  to  fuperintend  my  eftate  during  my  military 
fervices  in  the  former  war  between  Great  Britain  and 
France,  that  if  I  fhould  fall  therein,  Mount  Vernon,  then 
3efs  extenfive  in  domain  than  at  prefent.  fticuld  become 

-..'.-  *         „          * 

his   . 


AND    TESTAMENT.  45 

his  property)  I  give  and  bequeath  all  that  part  thereof 
\vhich  is  comprehended  within  the  following  limits,  viz. 
Beginning  at  the  ford  of  Dogue  Run- near  my  mill,  and 
extending  along  the  road,  and  bounded  thereby,  as  it  now  . 
goes  and  ever  has  gone  fince  my  recollection  of  it,  to  the 
ford  of  Little  Hunting  Creek,  at  the  Gum  Spring,  until  it 
comes  to  a  knowl  oppofae  to  an  old  road  which  formerly 
pafifed  through  the  lower  field  of  Muddy-hole  Farm,  at 
which,  on  the  north  fide  of  the  faid  road,  are  three  red  or 
Spaniih  oaks  marked  as  a  corner,  and  a  (lone  placed— 
thence  by  a  line  of  trees  to  be  marked  rectangular,  to  the 
back  line  or  outer  boundary  of  the  tracl:  between  Tho. 
Mafon  and  myfelf — thence  .with  that  line  eaftcrfy  (now 
double  ditching,  with  a  poft-and  rail  fence  thereon)  to  the 
run  of  Little  Hunting  Creek— thence  with  that  run,  which 
is  the  boundary  between  the  lands  of  the  late  H..Peake 
and  me,  to  the  tide  water  of  the  faid  creek — thence  by 
that  water  to  Potomac  River — thence  with  the  river  to 
the  mouth  of  Dogue  Creek — and  thence  with  the  faid 
Dogue  Creek  to  the  place  of  beginning  at  the  aforefaid 
ford;  containing  upwards  of  4000  acres,  be  the  fame  more 
or  lefs,  together  with  the  Manfion  Houfe,  and  all  other 
buildings  and  improvements  thereon. 

Second — In  confuleration  of  the  confanguinity  between 
them  and  my  wife,  being  as  nearly  related  to  her  as  to  my-> 
felf,  as  on  account  of  the  affection  I  had  for,  and  the  obli- 
gation I  was  under  to,  their  father,  when  living,  who,  from 
his  youth,  had  attached  himfelf  to  my  perfon,  and  follow- 
ed my  fortunes  through  the  vicifiitudes  of  the  late  Revo- 
lution, afterwards  devoting  his  time  to  the  fuperintendance 
of  my  private  concerns  for  many  years,  whilft  my  public 
employments  rendered  it  impracticable  for  me  to  do  it  my- 
felf, thereby  affording  me  eflential  favices,  and  always 

per- 


A&  HIS    LAST   WILL 

performing  them  in  a  manner  the  moft  filial  and  refpeQ:" 
ful — For  thefe  reafons,  I  fay,  I  give  and  bequeath  to 
George  Fayette Wafbington  and  Lawrence  Angujlinc  Wafting- 
tan,  and  their  heirs,  my  eftate  eaft  of -Little  Hunting 
Creek,  tying  on  the  river  Potomac,  including  the  farm 
of  360  acres,  leafed  to  Tobias  Lear,  as  noticed  before, 
and  containing  in  the  whole,  by  deed,  two  thoufand  and 
twenty-feven  acres,  be  it  more  or  lefs  ;  which  faid  eflate 
it  is  my  will  and  defire,  mould  be  equitably  and  advantage- 
oufly  divided  between  them,  according  to  quantity,  quality, 
and  other  circumftances,  when  the  youngeft  fhall  ha\e  ar- 
rwed  at  the  age  of  21  years,  by  three  judicious  a*id  dif- 
interefted  men  ;  one  to  be  chofen  by  each  of  the  brothers, 
and  the  third  by  thefe  two.  In  the  mean  time,  if  the  ter- 
mination of  my  wife's  intereft  therein  mould  have  ceafed, 
the  profits  arifing  therefrom  are  to  be  applied  for  their 
joint  ufes  and  benefit. 

'Third — And  whereas  it  has  always  been  my  intention, 
fmce  my  expectation  of  having  iflue  has  ceafed,  to  confider 
the  grand-children  of  my  wife,  in  the  fame  light  as  I  do  my 
own  relation?,  and  to  acl:  a  friendly  part  by  them,  more  ef* 
pecially  by  the  two  whom  we  have  raifed  from  their  ear- 
lieft  infancy — namely,  Eleanor  Park  Cuftis,  and  George 
WvJhintrUn  Park  Cuflis.  And  whereas  the  former  of  thefe 
hath  lately  intermarried  with  Lawrence  I^ewist  a  fon  of  my 
deceafed  filler,  Betty  Lewis,  by  which  union  the  induce- 
ment to  provide  for  them  both  has  been  increafcd,  Where- 
fore I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  faid  Lawrence  Lewis  and 
Eleamr  Park  Lewis,  his  wife,  and  their  heirs,  the  refidue 
of  my  Mount  Vernon  eftate,  not  already  devifed  to  my 
Nephew,  Bufirvd  Wafhington,  comprehended  within  the 
following  defcription,  viz.  All  the  land  north  of  the  road 
leading  from  the  ford  of  Dogue  Run  to  the  Gum  Spring, 

as 


AND    TESTAMENT.  47 

as  defcrlbed  in  tbe  devife  of  the  other  part  of  the  tract  to 
Buforod  Wafiingtcn,  until  it  comes  to  the  ftone  and  three 
red  or  Spanifh  oaks  on  the  knowl ;  thence  with  the  rectan- 
gular line  to  the  back  line  (between  Mr.  Mafon  and  me) 
thence  with  that  line  wefterly  along  the  new  double  ditch 
to  Dogue  Run  by  the  tumbling  dam  of  my  mill ;  thence 
with  the  faid  run  to  the  ford  afore  mentioned  ;  to  which 
1  add  all  the  land  I  pofiefs  weft  of  the  faid  Dogue  Run  and 
Dogue  Creek,  bounded  eafterly  and  foutherly  thereby  ;  to- 
gether with  the  mill,  diftillery,  and  all  other  houfes  and 
improvements  on,  the  prernifes;  making  together  about 
2000  acres,  be  it  more  or  lefs. 

Fourth — Actuated  by  the  principle  already  mentioned 
I  give  and  bequeath  to  George  IVajlingtQn  Park  Cujthy  the 
grandfon  of  my  wife,  and  my  ward,  and  to  his  heirs,  the 
tract  I  hold  on  Four  Mile  Run,  in  the  vicinity  of  Alexan- 
dria, containing  1200  acres,  more  or  lefs,  and  my  entire 
fquare,  No,  21,  in  the  city  of  Wafhington. 

Fifth — All  the  reft  and  refidue  of  my  eftate,  real  and 
perfonal,  not  difpofed  of  in  manner  aforefaid,  in  whatfoe- 
ver  confiding,  wherefoever  lying,  and  wherefoever  found, 
(a  Schedule  of  which  as  far  as  is  recollected,  with  a  reafon- 
able  eftimate  of  its  value,  is  hereunto  annexed)  I  defirc 
may  be  fold  by  my  Executors,  at  fuch  times,  in  fuch 
manner,  and  on  fuch  credits  (if  an  equal,  valid,  and  fatif- 
factory  distribution  of  the  fpecific  property  cannot  be  made 
without)  as  in  their  judgment  {hall  be  mofl  conducive  to 
the  intereft  of  the  parties  concerned,  and  the  monies  arif- 
ing  therefrom  to  be  divided  into  23  equal  parts,  and  appli- 
ed as  follows,  viz.  To  William  Augufiine  Wafbln^tm^ 
EHxabeth  Spotfaood,  Jane  Thornton^  and  the  heirs  of  Ann 
A  fit  on,  fon  and  daughters  of  my  deccafed  brother  Auguf- 
tine  WdfiinitQn,  \  give  and  bequeath  four  parts,  that  is,  one 

part 


43  HIS    LAST    WILL 

'part  to  each  of  them  :  To  Fielding  Lewis,  George 
Robert  Lewis,  Howell  Lewis,  and  Betty  Carter,  fons  and 
daughter  of  my  deceafed  fifler  Betty  Lewis,  I  give  and  be- 
queath five  other  parts,  one  to  each  of  them  .*  To  George 
Steptoe  Wafiington,  La-Mr ence  A.  Wafcington,  Harriot  Parks % 
and  the  heirs  of  Thornton  Wajbington,  fons  and  daughter  of 
my  deceafed  brother  Samuel  Wafkington,  I  give  and  be- 
queath the  other  four  parts,  one  part  to  each  of  them  i 
To  Carbin  Wajbington,  and  the  heirs  of  Jane  Wafljington, 
fbn  and  daughter  of  my  deceafed  brother  John  A.  Wafo- 
tngton,  I  give  and  bequeath  two  parts,  one  part  to  each  of 
them:  To  Samuel Wafoington^  Frances  Ball,  and  Mildred 
Hnmmond,  fon  and  daughters  of  my  brother  Cha.  Wafiing- 
toi:,  I  give  and  bequeath  three  parts,  one  part  to  each  of 
them  ;  and  to  Geo.  F.  Wafrington,  Cha.  Aug.  Wajlingtont 
and  Maria  Wajbingtvn,  fons  and  daughter  of  my  deceafed 
nephew,  Geo.  A  Wafiin^ton,  I  give  one  other  part,  that  is, 
to  each  a  third  of  that  part :  To  Eliz.  Park  Law,  Martha. 
Park  Peter,  and  Eleanor  Park  Lewis,  I  give  and  bequeath 
three  other  parts,  that  is,  a  part  to  each  of  them  :  And, 
to  my  nephews,  Bujhrod  Washington  and  Law.  Lewis,  and 
to  my  Ward,  the  grand-Ton  of  my  wife,  I  give  and  be- 
queath one  other  part,  that  is,  a  third  thereof  to  each  of 
them.  And  if  it  (hould  fo  happen,  that  any  of  the  per- 
fons  whofe  names  are  here  enumerated  (unknown  to  me) 
fhould  now  be  dead,  or  fhould  die  before  me,  that  in  ei- 
ther of  thefe  cafes,  the  heirs  of  fuch  deceafed  perfons  (hall, 
notwithftanding,  derive  all  the  benefits  of  the  bequeft,  in 
fame  manner  as  if  he  or  (he  was  actually  living  at  the  time. 
And,  by  way  of  advice,  I  recommend  to  my  Executors 
not  to  be  precipitate  in  difpofing  of  the  landed  property 
(therein  directed  to  be  fold)  if  from  temporary  caufes  the 
fale  thereof  (hould  be  dull ;  experience  having  fully  evin- 
ced 


AND    TESTAMENT. 

f  *d,  that  the  price  of  land,  efpecially  above  the  falls  of  the 
rivers  and  on  the  weftern  waters,  have  been  progreHively 
rifing  and  cannot  be  long  checked  in  its  increafing  value. 
And  I  particularly  recommend  it  to  fuch  of  the  Legatees 
(under  this  claufe  of  my  will)  as  can  make  it  convenient,  to 
take  each  a  il.are  of  my  flock  in  the  Potomac  Company,  in 
preference  to  the  amount  of  what  it  might  fell  for — being 
thoroughly  cbnvinced  myfelf,  that  no  ufes  to  which  the 
money  can  be  applied,  will  be  fo  productive  as  the  tolls 
•arifmg  from  this  navigation  when  in  full  operation  (and 
this  from  the  nature  of  things  it  muft  be  ere  long)  and 
more  efpecially  if  that  of  the  Shenandoah  is  added  thereto. 
The  Family  Vault  at  Mount  Vernon,  requiring  re- 
pairs, and  being  improperly  fituated  befides,  I  defire  thfct  2 
new  one  of  brick,  and  upon  a  larger  fcale,  may  be  built  at 
the  foot  of  what  is  commonly  called  the  Vineyard  inclo- 
fure,  on  the  ground  which  is  marked  out— In  which  my 
remains,  with  thofe  of  my  deceafed  relations  (now  in  the 
old  Vault)  and  fuch  others  of  my  Family  as  may  chufe  to 
Kb  entombed  there,  may  be  depofited.  And  it  is  my  ex- 
prefs  defife,  that  my  corps  may  be  interred  in  a  private 
manner,  without  parade  or  funeral  oration. 

Laft/y—l  conftitute  and  appoint  my  dearly  beloved  wife 
Martha  Washington,  my  Nephews,  William  Augufilne. 
Washington,  Biforod  Wajhingtcn,  George  Steptoc  Wajhingtw, 
Samuel  Wajbington*  and  Lawrence  Leivis,  and  my  Ward, 
George  Washington  Park  Curtis  (when  he  (hall  have  arriv- 
ed at  the  age  of  20  years)  Executrix  and  Executors  of  this 
mv  WILL  and  TESTAMENT — In  the  conftru&ion  of 
which,  it  will  readily  be  perceived,  that  no  profeflional 
character  has  been  consulted,  or  has  had  any  agency  in 
the  draught ;  and,  that  although  it  has  occupied  many  of 
my  leifure  hours  to  digefl,  and  to  throw  it  into  its  prefer.t 

H  form 


jo  HIS    LAST    Witt 

form,  it  may,  notwithftanding,  appear  crude  and  incor* 
reel— but  having  endeavoured  to  be  plain  and  explicit  in 
all  the  Devifes,  even  at  the  expence  of  prolixity,  perhaps 
of  tautology,  I  hope  and  truft,  that  no  difputes  will  arife 
concerning  them;  but  if,  contrary  to  expectation,  the  cafe 
fhould  be  otherwife  from  the  want  of  legal  expreifion,  or 
the  ufual  technical  terms,  or  becaufe  too  much  or  too  lit- 
tle has  been  faid  on  any  of  the  Devifes  to  be  confonant 
with  law,  my  Will  and  Direction  exprefsly  is,  that  all 
difputes  (if  unhappily  any  (hould  arife)  (hall  be  decided  by 
three  impartial  and  intelligent  men,  known  for  their  pro- 
bity and  good  underftanding— two  to  be  chofenby  the  dif* 
putants,  each  having  the  choice  of  one,  and  the  third  by 
thofe  two — which  three  men  thus  chofen  (hall,  unfettered 
by  law  or  legal  conftrucYions,  declare  the  fenfe  of  the  tef- 
tator's  intentions;  and  fuch  decifion  is,  to  all  intents  and 
•purpofes,  to  be  as  binding  on  the  parties  as  if  it  had  been 
given  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

IN  WITNESS  of  all  and  each  of  the  things  herein  con- 
tained, I  have  fet  my  Hand  and  Seal,  this  ninth  Day 
of  July,  in  the  Tear  one  thoufand  fiven  hundred  and 

ninety *   and  of  the   Independence  cf  the  United 

States  the  twenty-fourth. 


2f  tf        0 

*  It  appears  the  Teftator  omitted  the  Word  nine. 


AND    rESTJMENT. 


4  SCHEDULE  of  PROPERTY  comprehended  In  the  fore^ 
going  WILL,  vutjck  is   dire  fled  to  be  Sold,  and  fim?  oj  // 
//  condt tonally  Sold  j  with  defcriptivs  and  explanatory  Ncte$~ 
relative  thereto. 

IN  VIRGINIA, 

Loudon  County,  Difficult  Run, 
Loudon  &  Fauqmer,  Afhby'sBent 

Chattin'sRun 
Berkley,  S.  fork  of  Bullfe-in 

Head  of  Evans's  m. 

In  Wormly's  line 

2236  20  44>72°  c 

Frederick,  bo't  from  Mercer,                571  20  ^1,420  d 

Hampfhire,  on  Potomac  river  aboveB;  240  15  3?6oo  e 

Glcucefter,  on  North  river,                  400  about  3,600  / 
Naniemond,  near  Suffolk,  one-third 

of  1119  acres,                                       373  8  2,984  £ 

Great  Ditmal  Swamp,  my  dividend?  about  20,000  b 
Ohio  river,  Round  Bottom,                  587 
Little  Kenhawa,             2314 


tores. 

Price.' 

Dolls. 

300 

6,6.66  & 

2481 

10  d.  ' 

24,^00    , 

88$ 

8 

-  7,080  * 

1600 

453 

#3 

Sixteen  miles  lower  down 
Oppofite  Big  Bent 


2901 
2448 
4395 


GREAT 

Near  the  North  Weft 
Ealt  fide  above 
Mouth  of  Cole  river 
Oppofite  thereto 
Burning  Spring 


9744 
KENHAWA 

10,000 
7276 

2000 
2950 
125  —  3075 


Charles  County 
Montgomery  do. 

Great  Meadows 
Mohawk  river 


MARYLAND. 

600 

519 

PENNSYLVANIA. 


Dollars, 
10 


6 

12 


Pn 


234        < 
NEW  YORK. 

about     1000         ( 
NORTH  WEST  TERRITORY, 


Little  Miami 

Ditto 

I>itto 


97>44P 


200,000  k 

3,600   / 
6,229772 

1,404  n 


HIS    LAST    WILL 


Hough  Creek 
Ditto  adjoining 


KENTUCKY. 


3000 

iOOO 


Dolls. 


LOTS,  viz.  CITY  or  WASHINGTON. 
Two  near  the  Capitol,  Square  634,  cofl  963  dollars, 

and  with  buildings,  15,000  / 

No.  5,  J2,  13,  and  14,  the  three  lad  water  lots  on 
.the  Eaflern   Branch,  in  Square   667,   containing 
together  34,438  fquare  feel,  at  12  cents,  4>13J    s 

ALEXANDRIA. 

Corner  of  Pitt  and  Prince-itreets,  half  an  acre  laid 
out  into  buildings,  three  or  four  of  which  are 
let  on -ground-rent  at  ^dollars  per  foot,  4000  / 

WINCHESTER. 
A  lot  iu  the  town  of  half  an  acre,  and  another  in 

the  commons  of  about  fix  acres,  fuppofed  400  « 

BATH,    or  Warm  Springs. 
Two  well  fituated,   and  ha'd   buildings  fo  the  a- 

inount  of  150!.  —  —  800  "Uf 

STOCK—UNITED  STATES. 
Six  per  Cents  3746 

Do.  Deferred  1873 

Three  per  Cents  2946  —   2500        ~ -         6,246  x 

POTOMAC  COMPANY. 
Twenty-four  fhares  coft  each  lool.  fterling  10,666  y 

JAMES  RIVER  COMPANY. 
Five  fhares  each  coft  100  dollars  500  z 

BANK  OF  COLUMBIA. 
One  hundred  and  feventy  fhares  40  dollars  each  6,800  J 

BANK   OF  ALEXANDRIA. 
JSefides  20  fhares  to  the  Free  School — five  looo  J. 

STOCK,  LIVING,  viz. 
One  covering  horfe,  5  carriage  horfes,  4  riding  do, 

"  6  brood  mares,  20  working  horfes  and  mares,  2 
covering  Jacks',  and  3  young  ones,  10  fhe  afTes, 
42  working  mules,  15  younger  ones,  329  head  of 
}iorned  cattle,  640  head  of.  fheep,  and  a  large 
itock  of  hogs,  the  precife  number  unknown — - 

.  $&  '  My  Manager  has  eflimated  this  Live  Stock 
at  7000!.  but  I  fhall  let  it  down,  in  order  to  make 
5,  round  fum,  at  *5i&53 

Aggregate  Amount          • — .          530,000 


AND    TESTAMENT.  53 

NOTES. 

a — This  tract,  for  the  uze  of  it,  is  valuable,  more  for  its 
fuuation  thaa  the  quality  of  its  foil,  though  that  is  good  for 
farming,  with  a  coufiderable  proportion  of  ground  that  might 
yery  eafily  be  improved  into  meadow,  it  lies  on  the  great 
road  from  the  city  of  Washington,  Alexandria,  and  Georgetown, 
IP  Leelburg  and  Winchefter,  at  Difiicult  Bridge,  19  miles  from 
Alexandria,  lefs  from  the  City  and  Georgetown,  and  not  more 
than  3  from  Matildaville,  at  trie  Great  Falls  of  Potomac. — 
There  is  a  valuable  feat  on  the  premifes,  and  the  whole  is  con- 
ditionally fold  for  the  fum  annexed  in  the  Schedule. 

b — What  the  felling  prices  of  lands  in  the  vicinity  of  thefe 
two  tracts  are,  I  know  not;  but  compared  with  thole  above 
the  Ridge,  and  others  below  it,  the  value  annexed  will  ap- 
pear moderate — a  lefs  one  would  not  obtain  them  from  me. 

c — The  furrounding  land,  not  fuperior  in  foil,  fituation,  or 
properties  of  any  fort,  fclis  currently  at  from  zo  to  30  dollars 
aa  acre.  The  loweft  price  is  affixed  to  thefe. 

d — The  obiervations  made  in  the  laft  Note  apply  equally  to 
this  tract,  being  in  the  vicinity  of  them,  and  of  fimihr  qua- 
lity, althoj  it  lies  in  another  county. 

e — This  tract,  tho'  fmall,  is  extremely  valuable.  It  lies  on 
Potomac  River,  about  12,  miles  above  the  town  of  Bath  (or 
Warm  Springs),  and  is  in  the  ihapc  of  a  horfe-ihoe,  the  river 
running  almoft  around  it ;  200  acres  of  it  are  rich  low  grounds, 
with  a  great  abundance  of  the  largeft  and  fineit  walnut  trees, 
which,  with  the  produce  of  the  foil,  might  (by  means  of  the 
improved  navigation  of  the  Potomac)  be  brought  to  a  fhippirfg 
port  with  more  eafe,  and  at  a  fmaller  expeace,  than  that 
which  is  tranlportcd  30  miles  only  by  land. 

f- — This  tract  is  of  fecond-rate  Gloucefter  low  grounds.  It 
has  no  improvements  thereon,  but  lies  on  navigable  water,  a- 
bounding  in  fifli  and  oyfters.  It  was  received  in  payment  of  a 
debt  (carrying  interest)  and  valued,  in  the  year  1789,  by  an 
impartial  gentleman,  at  Sool. — N.  B.  It  has  lately  been  fold, 
and  there  is  due  thereon  a  balance  equal  to  what  is  annexed  in 
the  Schedule* 

g — Thefe  373  acres  are  the  third  part  of  undivided  parchafes 
made  by  the  deceafed  Fielding  Lewis,  Tho.  Walker,  and  my- 
felf,  on  full  conviction  that  they  would  become  Valuable.  The 
land  lies  on  the  road  from  Suffolk  to  Norfolk,  touches  (if  I  am 
roc  miflaken)  fome  part  of  the  navigable  water  of  Nanfemond 
River  ;  the  rich  Difmal  Swamp  is  capable  of  great  improve- 
p&uty  and,  from  its  iltuation,  inuft  become  extremely  valuable. 

Thefe 


54  HIS    LA-ST   WILL 

h — This  is  an  undivided  intereft  v/hich  I  held  in  tlie  Great 
Biimai  Swamp  Company,  containing  about  4000  acres,  vmh 
ray  part  of  the  plantation  and  ftcck  thereon,  belonging  to  the 
Company,  in  the  faid  Swamp. 

/ — Thefe  feveral  traces  of  land  are  of  the  firft  quality  on  the 
•Ohio  R-iver,  in  the  parts  where  they  are  iituated,  being  al~ 
jnort,  if  not  altogether,  river  bottoms.  The  fmalleft  of  theie 
trails  is  acltially  fold  at  10  dollars  an  acre,  but  the*  confidera- 
t'ion  therefor  not  received.  The  reft  are  equally  valuable,  and 
\vill  {HI  as  t'gh,  efpecially  that  which  lies  juft  below  the  Lit- 
tle Kenhawa,  and  is  oppotitc  to  a  thick  iettlement  en  the  weft 
ftde  of  the  river.  The  four  tracts  have  an  aggregate  breadth 
upon  the  river  of  16  miles^  and  are  bounded  thereby  that  uii- 


£ — Thcfe  tradls  are  iituated  upon  the  Great  Kenhawa  R.iver, 
and  the  h'rft  four  are  bounded  thereby  for  more  than  40  miles. 
It  is  acknowledged  by  all  who  have  ieen  them  (and  of  the  tract 
containing  10,990  acres,  which  I  have  been  on  myfelf,  I  can 
alien)  thac  there  is  no  richer  or  more  valuable  land  in  all  that 
region  They  are  conditionally  fold  for  the  lum  mentioned  in 
the  Schedule,  that  is,  200,000  dollars ;  and  if  the  terms  of 
that  fale  are  not  complied  with,  they  will  command  confider- 
abiy  more. — The  tract,  of  which  the  125  acres  is  a  moiety, 
Avas  taken  up  by  General  Andrew  Lewis  and  myfelf,  for,  and 
on  account  of,  a  bitumenous  i'pring  which  it  contains,  of  fo  in- 
flammable a  nature,  as  to  burn  as  freely  as  fpirits,  and  is  as 
Dearly  difficult  to  extinguish. 

/ — I  am  but  little  acquainted  with  this  land,  altho'  I  have 
once  been  on  it.  It  was  received  (many  years  fince)  in  dii- 
charge  of  a  debt  due  to  me  from  Daniel  J.  Adams,  at  the  va- 
lue annexed  thereto,  and  mud  be  worth  more.  It  is  very 
level,  and  lies  near  the  river  Potomac, 

m — This  tracl:  lies  about  30  miles  above  the  city  of  Wafh- 
ington,  not  far  from  Kittodlan.  It  is  good  farming  land,  and, 
by  thofe  who  are  well  acquainted  with  it,  I  am  informed  that 
it  would 'fell  at  i  i  or  15  dollars  per  acre. 

n — This  laud  is  valuable  on  account  of  its  local  Mtuation  and 
other  properties.  It  affords  an  exceeding  good  ftand  on  Bra- 
dock's  Road  from  Fort  Cumberland  to  Pittfburg ;  and,  befides 
a  fertile  foil,  poiTefies  a  large  quantity  of  natural  meadow,  fit 
for  the  "fcythe.  It  is  diiiinguiihed  by  the  appellation  of  the 
GreatTvIeadows,  where  the  iirit  action  with  the  French^  in  the 
year  1754,  v.as  fought. 

This 


AND    TEST  A  ME  XT.  55 

0 — This  is  the  moiety  of  about  2000  acresj  which  remain 
Unfold,  of  6071  acres  on  the  Mohawk  River  (Montgomery 
county),  in  a  patent  granted  to  Daniel  Cox,  in  the  town'hipof 
Coxborough  and  Carolan,  as  \vill  appear  by  deed  from  Mar. 
Willet  and  wife  to  George  Clinton  (late  Governor  of  N.  York) 
and  m.yfelf.  The  latter  tales  have  been  at  6  dollars  an  acre, 
and  what  remains  unfold  will  fetch  that  or,  more, 

p — The  quality  of  thefe  lands  and  their  fituation,  maybe 
known  by  'the  Surveyor's  Certificates,  which  are  filed  along 
•with  the  patents.  They  lay  in  the  vicinity  of  Cincinnati  ;  one 
tract  near  the  month  of  the  Little  Miami,  another  7,  and  the 
third  10  miles  up  the  fame.  I  have  been  informed,  that  they 
will  readily  command  more  than  they  are  edimated  at. 

q — For  the  defcription  of  thefe  tracts  in  detail,  fee  General 
Spotfwood's  letters,  filed  with  the  other  papers  relating  to 
them.  Befides  the  general  good  quality  of  the  land,  there  is 
a-  valuable  bank  of  iron  ore  thereon,  which,  when  the  ftttle- 
irient  becomes  more  populous  (and  fettlers  are  moving  that  \vay 
very  fad)  will  be  found  very  valuable,  as  the  Rou^h  Creek,  a 
branch  of  Green  River,  affords  ample  water  for  furnaces  and 
forges. 

LOTS,  viz.  CITY  OF  WASHINGTON, 

r — The  two  lots  near  theCapitol,  in  Square  634,'coft  me  963 
dollars  only,  but  in  this  price  I  was  favoured,  on  condition  that 
I  fhould  build  two  brick  houies,  each  three  dories  high  ;  with- 
out this  reduction,  the  felling  prices  of  thefe  lots  would  have 
cod  me  about  1350  dollars.  Thefe  lots,  with  the  buildings 
thereon,  when  completed,  will  ftand  me  ia  IJOOQ  dollars  at 
leaft. 

s — Lots  No.  5,  12,  13,  and  14,  on  the  EaAern  Branch,  are 
advantageoufiy  ficuated  on  the  water;  and  altho'  many  lots 
much  lefs  convenient  have  fold  a  great  deal  higher,  I  will  rate 
thefe  at  12  cents  the  fquare  foot  only, 

ALEXANDRIA. 

/• — For  this  lot,  tho?  unimproved,  I  have  refufed  3.700  dol- 
lars. It  has  fmce  been  laid  off  into  proper  fized  lots  for  bujlding 
on,  three  or  four  of  which  are  let  on-pround-nent  forever,  at  3 
dollars  a  foot  on  the  ftreet ;  and  tin's  price  is  alvcd  for  both 
fronts  on  Pitt  and  Prince-ftreets. 

WINCHESTER. 

u — As  neither  the  lots  in  the  To\vh  or  Common  ha\rc  an? 
improvements  on  them,  it  is  not  eafy  to  fix  a  price  ;  but  as 
both  are  well  fituated,  it  is  prefnmed  the  price  annexed  to 
them  in  the  Schedule  is  a  reafoiiable  valuation. 

The 


5<>  HIS    LAST    WILL 

BATH. 

"j,< — The  !ors  in  Rath  (tsvo  adjoining)  cofl:  me,  to  the  bed  of 
my  recollection,  between  50  and  6ol.  twenty  years  ago,  and 
the  buildings  thereon  i;;Ol.  more.  Whether  property  there 
has  increafed  or  decreafed  its  value,  and  in  what  condition  the 
hjuufes  are,  I  am  ignorant,  but  fuppoi'e  they  are  not  valued 
too  high. 

STOCK, 

x — Thefe  are  the  Turns  which  are  Anally  funded,  and  tho* 
no  more  in  the  aggregate  than  7,566  dollars,  liand  me  in  at 
lead  io,oocU  Virginia  money  ;  being  the  amount  of  bonded 
anJ  other  debts  di:e  to  me,  and  difcharged  during  the  war, 
v.'hen  money  had  depreciated  in  that  rate — ^  and  was  fo  fet- 
tled by  public  authority. 

y — The  value  annexed  to  thefe  {hares  is  what  they  have  ac- 
tually coit  .me,  and  is  the  price  affixed  by  Law  ;  and  alr.ho'  the 
prefent  felling  price  is  under  par,  my  advice  to  the  Legatees 
(for  \vhofe  benefit  they  arc  intended,  efpecially  thofe  who  can 
aiFord  to  lie  out  of  the  money)  is,  that  each  fhould  take  and 
hold  one — there  being  a  moral  certainty  of  a  great  and  in- 
creafing .profit  arifing  from  them  in  the  courfe  of  a  few  years, 

z— It  is  fuppofed  that  the  Shares  in  the  James  River  Com- 
pany mull  alfo  be  productive — but  of  this  I  can  give  no  deckl- 
c*d  opinion,  for  want  of  more  accurate  information. 

+ — Thefe  are  the  nominal  prices  of  the  fhares  in  the  banks 
of  Alexandria  and  Columbia  ;  the  felling  prices  vary  according 
to  circumftances — but  as  the  ftockufually  divides  from  8  to  10 
per  cent,  per  ann.  they  rnuft  be  worth  the  former,  at  Jeaft,  fo 
long  as  the  banks  are  conceived  to  be  fecure,  aJtho'  circuni- 
ftances  may  fometimes  make  them  below  it. 

The  value  of  the  Live  Stock  depends  more  upon  the  quality 
than  quantity  of  the  different  fpecies  of  it — and  this  again  upon 
the  demand  and  judgement,  or  fancy  of  purchafers. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON^ 

frlpunt  Vernen-)  tyh  July  1/99. 


ti'ASHINGTONIANA, 


iTftt?  following  Article  will  be  found  not  only  hijlorically 
,  but  alfo  a  necejjary  elucidation  of  that  part  of  the  Will 
which  mentions  the  Box  made  of  the  Ouk  that  faltered  Sir 
WILLIAM  WALLACE,  the  Champion  of  Scotland  (fee  p* 
4z) — M  which  isfeen  -with  -what  ckaratteri/iical  prudence  and 
addrt'fs,  the  General  declines  complying  "With  Lord  Buchan^s^ 
requtfty  *'  to  leave  it  to  the  Man  whom  HE  Jlull  think  the  moft 
worthy  of  receiving  it." — //  will  contradict  the  prevailing  idea 
in  this  Country,  that  Scotchmen  are  naturally,  hoflile  to  Li- 
berty ;  it  will  fhewy  that  even  among  the  Ariftocracy  of  their 
ancient  Kingdom,  WASHINGTON  had  his  admirers;  and  it 
'will  demonftrate,  u  that  in  every  clime ,  and  in  every  region, 
"  homa.ge  is  paid  to  Virtue.^ 

PHILADELPHIA,  Jan.  4,  1792. 

On  Friday  laft  was  prefented  to  the  Prefident  of  the 
United  States,  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  a  Box,  elegantly 
mounted  with  filver,  and  made  of  the  celebrated  oak  tree 
that  flickered  the  patriotic  Sir  WILLIAM  WALLACE  of 
Scotland,  after  the  unfortunate  battle  of  Falkirk  about  the 
year  1300.  This  very  curious  and  chara&eriftical  pre- 
fent  is  from  the  Earl  of  Buchan,  by  the  hand  of  Mr. 
Archibald  Robertfon,  a  Scotch  gentleman,  and  a  portrait 
painter,  who  arrived  in  America  fome  months  ago.  The 
Box  was  prefented  to  Lord  Buchan  by  the  Goldfmiths* 
Company  of  Edinburgh,;  from  whom  his  Lordfhip  re- 
quefted,  and  obtained  leave,  to  make  it  over  to  the  Mart 
\vhom  he  deemed  more  deferving  of  it  than  himfelf,  and 
GEORGE  WASHINGTON  was  the  Man. 

We  further  learn,  that  Lord  Buchan  has  requeued  of 
the  Prefident,  that,  on  the  event  of  his  deceafe,  he  will 
confign  the  Box  to  that  Man,  /«  this  Country,  who  mall 
appear,  in  his  judgement,  to  merit  it  bed,  upon  the  fame 
confiderations  that  induced  him  to  fend  it  to  America. — • 
[See  the  Will,  p.  42.] 

J  Upon 


5* 

Upon  the  Box,  which  is  curioufly  wrought,  is  a  filver 
plate  with  the  folio wiiig  infcription  : — "  Prefented  by  the 
"  Goldfmiths  of  Edinburgh  to  David  Stetvart  Erftir.c,  Earl 
"  of  Buchan,  with  the  Freedom  of  their  Corporation)  by  their 
"  Deacon— A.  D.  1792." 

Copy  of  the  LETTER  from  Lord  BUCK  AN  to  General 
WASHINGTON,  accompanying  the  Box. 

"  SIR,  Dryburgh  Abbey,  June  28,  I  791. 

"  I  Had  the  honour  to  receive  your  Excellency's  letter, 
relating  to  the  advertifement  of  Dr.  Anderfon's  periodical 
publication,  in  the  Gazette  of  the  United  States  ;  which 
attention  to  my  recommendation  I  feel  veVy  fenfibly,  and 
return  you  my  grateful  acknowledgments. 

'"In  the  2iftNo.  of  that  Literary  Mifcellany,  I  in- 
fcrted  a  monitary  paper  refpe&ing  America,  which  I  flat- 
ter myfelf,  may,  if  attended  to  on  the  other  fide  theAtlan- 
tic,  be  productive  of  good  confequences. 

"  To  ufe  your  own  emphatic  words,  "  May  that  Al- 
mighty Being  who  rules  over  the  Univerfe — who  prefides 
in  the  Councils  of  Nations — and  whofe  providential  aid 
can  fupply  every  human  defect,  confecrate  to  the  Liber- 
ties and  Happinefs  of  the  American  people,  a  government 
inftituted  by  themfelves  for  public  and  private  fecurity,  up- 
on the  bafis  of  Law  and  equal  adminiflration  of  Juftice, 
preferving  to  every  individual  as  much  civil  and  political 
freedom  as  is  confident  with  the  fafety  of  the  Nation"-— 
And  may  HE  be  pleafed  to  continue  your  life  and  ftrength 
as  long  as  you  can  be  in  any  way  ufeful  to  your  Country  ! 

"  1  have  entrufted  this  (heet  inclofed  in  a  Box,  made  of 
the  Oak  that  flickered  our  Great  Sir  William  Wallace, 
after  the  battle  of  Falkirk,  to  Mr.  Robertfon,  of  Aber- 
deen, a  Painter,  with  the  hope  of  his  having  the  honour 

of 


WASHINGrONIANA.  59 

cf  delivering  it  into  your  hands ;  recommending  him  as 
an  able  Artift,  feeking  for  fortune  and  fame  in  the  New 
World.  This  box  was  prefented  to  me  by  the  Goldfniiths* 
Company  at  Edinburgh,  to  whom,  feeling  my  own  un- 
worthinefs,  to  receive  this  magnificently  fignificant  prefent, 
I  requeued  and  obtained  leave  to  make  it  over  to  the  man 
in  the  world  to  whom  I  thought  it  moft  juftly  due.  Into 
your  hands  I  commit  it,  requefting  of  you  to  pafs  it,  on 
the  event  of  your  deceafe,  to  the  Man,  in  your  own 
country  who  (hall  appear  to  your  judgment  to  merit  it 
beft,  upon  the  fame  confiderations  that  have  induced  me  to 
fend  it  to  your  Excellency. 

"I  am,  Sir,  with  the  highefl  efteem, 
Your  Excellency's  moft  obedient 

And  obliged  humble  fervant,        BUCHAN. 
f(  General  WASHINGTON,  Prefident ") 
of  the  United  States  of  America."  J 

"  P.  S. — I  beg  your  Excellency  will  have  thegoodnefi 
to  fend  me  your  Portrait,  that  I  may  place  it  among  thofe 
I  mod  honour,  and  I  would  wifh  it  from  the  pencil  of  Mr. 
Robertfon.  I  beg  leave  to  recommend  him  to  your  coun- 
tenance ;  as  he  has  been  mentioned  to  me  favourably  by 
my  worthy  friend,  Profeflbr  Oglvie,  of  King's  College, 
Aberdeen" 

Two  LETTERS  from  General  WASHINGTON  to  Lord 
BUCHAN. 

"  M  Y  LORD,  Philadelphia,  May  i ,  1792. 

•  "I  mould  have  had  the  honour  of  acknowledging  foon- 
cr  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  28th  of  June  laft,  hadf 
I  not  concluded  to  defer  doing  it  till  I  could  announce  to 
you  the  tranfmiflion  of  my  portrait,  which  has  jufl  been 
foifhed  by  Mr,  Robertfon  (of  New-York)  who  has  alfq 

I  a  yn- 


6o  IV A  S  HING  T 0  NIA  NA. 

undertaken  to  forward  it.  The  manner  of  the  execution 
of  it  does  no  difcredit,  I  am  told,  to  the  artift,  of  whcfe 
fkill  favourable  mention  has  been  made  to  me.  I  was  fur- 
ther induced  to  entruft  the  execution  of  it  to  Mr.  Robert- 
fon,  from  his  having  informed  me  that  he  had  drawn  oth- 
ers for  your  Lordihip,  and  knew  the  fize  which  befl  fuited 
your  collection. 

"  I  accept,  with  fenfibility  and  with  fatisfaclion,  the 
fignificant  prefont  of  the  box  which  accompanied  your 
Lordfhip's  letter. 

-  "  In  yielding  the  tribute  due  from  every  1  ver  of  man- 
kind to  the  patriotic  and  heroic  virtues  of  which  it  is  com- 
memorative, I  eftimate,  as  I  ought,  the  additional  value 
which  it  derives  from  the  hand  that  fent  it,  and  my  obli- 
gation for  the  fentiments  that  induced  the  transfer. 

<e  I  will,  however,  afk,  that  you  will  exempt  me  from 
the  compliance  with  the  requeft  relating  to  its  eventual  def- 
tination, 

"  In  an  attempt  to  execute  your  wilh  in  this  particular, 
I  fhould  feel  embarraiTment,  from  a  juft  comparifon  of 
relative  pretenfions,  and  fear  to  rifk  injuflice  by  fo  marked 
a  preference. 

"  With  fentiments  of  the  the  trueft  efleem  and 
confideration,  I  remain  your  Lordfliip's  moft 

obedient  fervant,  G.  WASHINGTON. 

Earl  of  Buchan. 

"My  LORD,  Philadelphia,  April  22,  T  793. 

"  The  favourable  wifl«es  which  your  Lordihip  has  cx- 
prefled  for  the  profperity  of  this  young  and  rifing  country, 
cannot  but  be  gratefully  received  by  all  its  Citizens,  and 
every  lover  of  it ;  one  mean  to  the  contribution  of  which, 
and  its  happinefs,  is  very  judicioufly  pourtrayed  in  the  fol- 
lowing words  of  your  letter,  "  To  be  little  heard  of  in  the 

great 


WASHING?  ON!  AX  A.  61 

great  world  of  politics."  Thefe  words,  1  can  affare  ycur 
Lordfhip,  are  exprciTive  of  my  fentimenis  on  this  head ; 
and  I  believe  it  is  the  fincere  wifh  of  United  America,  to 
have  nothing  to  do  with  the  political  intrigues  or  the  Bab- 
bles of  European  nations;  but,  on  the  contrary,  to  ex- 
change commodities,  and  live  in  peace  and  amity  with  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  ;  and  this  I  am  perfuaded  they 
will  do,  if  rightfully  it  can  be  done.  To  adminifier  juflice 
to,  and  receive  it  from  every  power  they  are  connected 
with,  will,  1  hope,  he  always  found  the  moil  prominent 
feature  in  the  Administration  of  this  Country  ;  and  I  flat- 
ter myfelf  that  nothing  fliort  of  imperious  necefllry  can  cc- 
cafion  a  breach  with  any  of  them.  Under  fuch.a  fyflem, 
if  we  are  allowed  to  purfue  it,  the  agriculture  and  mecha- 
nical arts — the  wealth  and  population  of  thefe  States,  will 
increafe  with  that  degree  of  rapidity,  as  to  baffle  all  cal- 
culation ;  and  mud  furpafs  any  idea  your  Lord  <  ip  can, 
hitherto,  havt  entertained  on  the  occafion. 

"  To  evince  that  our  views  (whether  realized  or  not) 
are  expanded,  I  take  the  liberty  of  fending  you  the  plan  of 
a  new  City,  fituated  about  the  centre  of  the  union  of 
thefe  States,  which  is  defigned  for  the  permanent  feat  of 
theGovernment ;  and  we  are  this  moment  deeply  engaged, 
and  far  advanced  in  extending  the  inland  navigation  of 
the  river  (Potomac)  on  which  it  (lands,  and  the  branches 
thereof,  through  a  tract  of  as  rich  country  for  hundreds  of 
miles,  as  any  in  the  world.  Nor  is  thrs  a  folitary  inftance 
of  attempts  of  the  kind,  altho*  it  is  the  only  one  which  Is 
near  completion,  and  in  partial  ufe.  .Several  other  im- 
portant ones  are  commenced,  and  little  doubt  is  entertain- 
ed, that  in  ten  years,  if  left  unciiflurbed,  we  (hall  open  a 
communication  by  water  with  all  the  Lakes  north  ward  and 
wedward  of  us  with  which  we  have  territorial  connec- 
Jjons  j  and  an  inland  navigation,  in  a  few  years  more,  may 

be 


62  lyASPIING'TONIANA. 

ke  carried  into  effeft  from  Rhode  Ifland  to  Georgia,  part- 
ly by  cuts  between  the  great  Bays  and  Sounds,  and  partly 
between  the  iflands  and  the  main,  from  Albemarle  Sound 
to  St.  Mary's  river.  To  thefe  fliould  be  added,  the 
creation  of  bridges  over  rivers,  and  the  making  of  turn- 
pikfe-roads,  as  further  indications  of  improvements.1'— m 


A     SCOTCH    HISTORICAL     NOTE. 

*^*  The  Scottish  reader  turns  with  laudable  avidity  to 
the  interesting  (lory  of  Sir  WILLIAM  WALLACE,  the  De^ 
fender  of  his  Country,  and,  even  in  the  dark  days  of  Igno? 
rauce  and  Superfiition,  the  Champion  of  "Liberty. — Making 
due  allowance  for  national  partiality  and  exaggeration,  the 
leading  circumftances  of  the  ftory  are  founded  on  a  remark* 
able  portion  of  Britifh  hiflory  ;  and,  by  the  variety  of  its 
martial  incidents,  when  the  romantic  fpirit  of  Chivalry  ap- 
peared in  all  its  glory,  innocently  amufes  the  fancy,  whilft 
it  ufefully  enlarges  the  understanding. 

About  the  latter  end  of  the  I3th  Century,  Edward  the 
Firfl  of  England,  having  fet  up  a  pretence  to  the  Scottifli 
crown,  invaded  that  country  with  a  great  army,  committing 
every  ki.nd  of  rapine  and  devaluation,  which  ib  legibly  and 
fearfully  cbaraeterife  thefe  fcourges  of  the  human  race,  call- 
ed Cotiqutrorsi — When  the  people  had  nearly  all  been  fubdu- 
ed,  WALLACE  arofe,  and,  with  a  few  followers,  endeavour- 
ed to  refcue  his  unfortunate  country  from  bondage  and  op- 
preffion  ;  he  bravely  fought  and  ilruggled,  with  various  fuc- 
ccfs,  until  he  was  betrayed  by  fome  of  the  Arnolds  of  that 
day,  and  put  into  the  hands  of  his  blood-thirfty  enemies,  who 
carried  him  to  London,  and  there  put  him  to  a  cruel  and 
ignominious  death.  * 

What  Wallace  began,  Bruce  completed — By  the  decifive 
battle  of  Bannockburn,  in  the  year  1314,  he  freed  his  coun- 
try from  the  yoke  of  England,  and  obtained  the  crown  as 
the  reward  of  his  valour.  ROBERT  BRUCE,  even  at  this 
day,  is  defervedly  a  favourite  of  his  nation  ;  unqueftion- 
ably  he  was  the  ableft  Monarch  that  ever  fwayed  the  Scot* 
tiih  fceptre;  and  he  may,  with  fome  propriety,  be  called 

the 


iheWaflungtoJi  of  Scotland,  becaafc  he  was  fucccfsfu!.— If  our 
Wafhington  had  been  unfuccefsful,  had  fallen  a  victim  roEng- 
rifh  vengeance,  and  had  faffered  a  fliameful  death,  thc-n  Lord 
Buchan's  parallel  had  been  complete  with  refpect  to  Wallace 
— Wafliington  himfelf,  for  a  time,  was  in  danger  of  the 
block  or  the  gibbet — Wafhington  defeated  would  have  been 
a  traitor;  but,  Wafhington  victorious,  became  a  Hero  — 
Such  is  the  wonderful  effect  of  fuccefs  in  the  eyes  of  the  giddy- 
unthinking  multitude,  that  "  it  marks  a  Rebel,  or  it  dubs  a 

King!" 

What  the  fword  of  Edward  could  not  achieve  in  the  I3th 
Englilh  gold  has  fully  effected  in  the  iyth  Century — The 
Nobles  of  Scotland  no  longer  contend  for  the  independency 
of  their  Country  ;  -^  they  have  transferred  their  allegiance 
from  the  Stewarts  to  the  Guelphs ;  they  are  dwindled  into 
Lords  of  the  Bed-chamber,  and  Grooms  of  the  Stole,  and  Ser- 
vants of  the  Houfebold  of  the  Elector  of  Hanover  ;  and  an- 
cient Caledonia  is  become  an  obfcure  province,  fubject  to  the 
pride  and  the  power  of  England  ! 

Hiftory — pure,  impartial  hHlory — is  no  refpecter  of  per- 
fons  or  of  nations — And  an  American  obferver  will  not  be 
milled  either  by  Englilh,  or  Scotch,  or  French  partialities. 

R. 

*  This  atrocious  a&  was  afterwards  exceeded,  in  a  ten-fold  de- 
gree, by  the  long-premeditated  and  treacherous  murder  of  the  beauti- 
ful Queen  Mary,  under  the  orders  of  her  implacable  rival  Queen  Eliz- 
abeth.— Taking  in  all  the  circumftances  of  this  tragical  itory,  it  is 
one  of  the  heft  authenticated,  and  moil  aflefting,  that  is  recorded  in 
Hiftory.  —  An  Engliihman  dwells  with  rapture  on  the  glorious  deeds 
of  the  "  good  Queen  Befs,"  as  he  calls  her;  and,  among  her  other 
qualities,  he  will  ferioufly  praife  her  cliaility ! — But  what  will  not 
JohnBull  do,  or  fay,  when  once  he  "  takes  a  notion  ?" — HerRoyalMa- 
jefty  of  England,  it  muft  be  owned,  had  not  quite  fo  many  lovers  as 
her  late  Imperial  Majefty  of  Ruflia,  b\it  (he  had  enough  to  prove,  that 
fhe  was  poffeflbi  of  very  violent  and  ungovernable  paffions. — And  it 
is  a  fad  not  to  be  pafled  over  in  filence,  that  from  this  afTumed  virtue 
of  the  Englifli  Queen  was  given  the  prefent  name  of  this  State,  Vir- 
ginia ! — Perhaps  the  prefent  generation  of  Virginians  will  admire  the 
ritnefs  of  this  iignincant  appellation — certainly  they  will  wonder  at 
the  curious,  oftentimes  ridiculous  circumftances,  which  move  and  di- 
re&  even  the  moft  ferious  affairs  of  this  verfatile  world ! 

f  Some  years  ago,  the  Earl  of  Buchan  (who  is  elder  brother  to  the 
celebrated  Counfellor  Eilkine  of  London)  aftlamed  of  the  degenerocy 
of  his  brother  Lords,  attempted  to  reilvain  the  bare-faced  interfer- 
ence of  the  Minifter  in  the  eledicn  of  the  16  Peers — but  he  foon 
found,  that  the  fmall  remnant  of  Scottifh  independency  was*  but  A 
feeble  match  for  the  golden  influence  of  the  Englifh  Treafury. 


The  Fathers  Legacy  to  his  Country  i 


BEING 


The  ADDRESS  of  GEORGE  WASHINGTON, 

"jjhen  Prefid^nt  of  the  UNITED  STATES,  on  declining  le~ 
ing  considered  a  Candidate  for  their  future  Suffrages. 


DEAD    HE    TE'f   SPEAKEfH." 

TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Friends  and  -Fellow  Citizens, 

1  HE  period  for  a  new  eie&ion  of  a  Citizen  to  adrnini- 
fier  the  Executive  Government  of  the  United  States,  be- 
irg  not  far  diftant,  and  the  time  a&u'alty  arrived  when 
your  thoughts  mud  be  employed  in  defignating  the  pcrfon 
\vho  is  to  be  cloathed  with  that  important  truft,  it  appears 
to  me  proper,  efpecially  as  it  may  conduce  to  a  more  dif- 
tin£t  expreffion  of  the  public  voice,  that  I  (Tiould  now  ap- 
prife  you  of  the  refolution  I  have  formed,  to  decline  being 
considered  among  the  number  of  thofe  out  of  whom  a 
choice  is  to  be  made. 

I  beg  you,  at  the  fame  time,  to  do  me  the  juMice  to  be 
aiTured,  that  this  refolution  has  not  been  taken  without  a 
ftri£fc  regard  to  all  the  confiderations  appertaining  to  the  re- 
lation which  binds  a  dutiful  Citizen  to  his  Country,  and 
that,  in  withdrawing  the  tender  of  fen  ice  which  filencein 
rny  fitnaticn  might  imply,  1  am  influenced  by  no  diminu- 
tion of  zeal  for  your  future  interefl  ;  no  deficiency  of 
grateful  refpeQ:  for  your  paft  kindnefs  —  but  am  fupported 
by  a  full  conviction.  that  the  ilep  is  compatible  with  both. 
The  acceptance  oF,  and  continuance  hitherto  in,  the  of- 
fice to  which  your  fuflrages  have  twice  called  me,  have 

bsen 


W    tJfi'  COUNTM.  6$ 

uniform  facrifice  of  inclination  to  the  opinion  of  du- 
ty, and  to  a  deference  for  what  appeared  to  be  your-  defrre. 
I  conftantly  hoped,  that  it  would  have  been  much  earlier 
in  my  power,  confidently  with  motives,  which  I  was  not 
at  liberty  to  difregard,  to  return  to  that  retirement  from 
which  I  had  been  reluctantly  drawn.  The  ftrength  of  my 
inclination  to  do  this,  previous  to  the  laft  election,  had  even 
led  to  the  preparation  of  an  addrefs  to  declare  it  to  you  ; 
but  mature  reflection  on  the  then  perplexed  and  critical 
pofture  of  affairs  with  foreign  Nations,  and  the  unanimous 
advice  of  perfons  entitled  to  my  confidence,  impelled  me 
to  abandon  the  idea. 

I  rejoice  that  the  ftate  of  your  concerns,  external  as 
well  as  internal,  no  longer  renders  the  purfuit  of  inclina- 
tion incompatible  with  the  fentiment  of  duty  or  proprie- 
ty :  And  am  perfuaded  whatever  partiality  may  be  re- 
tained for  my  fervices,  that  in  the  prefent  circumftances  of 
our  Country,  you  will  not  difapprove  my  determination  to 
retire. 

The  impreflions  with  which  I  firft  undertook  the  ardu- 
ous truft,  were  explained  on  the  proper  occafion.  In  the 
difcharge  of  this  truft,  I  will  only  fay,  that  I  have  with 
good  intentions,  contributed  towards  the  organization  and" 
adminiftration  of  the  Government,  the  bed  exertions  of 
which  a  very  fallible  judgment  was  capable.  Not  uncon- 
fcious,  in  the  outfet,  of  the  inferiority  of  my  qualifica- 
tions, experience,  in  my  own  eyes,  perhaps  flill  more  in 
the  eyes  of  others,  has  ftrengthened  the  motives  to  diffi- 
dence of  myfelf :  And  every  day  the  increafing  weight  of 
years  admoniflies  me  more  and  more,  that  the  made  of  re- 
tirement is  as  necefiary  to  me  as  it  will  be  welcome.  Sa- 
tisfied that  if  any  circumftances  have  given  peculiar  value 
to  my  fervices,  they  were  temporary,  I  have  the  confola- 

K  tiony 


66  HIS    L 

t-ion  to  believe,  that  while  choice  and  prudence  invite 
to  quit  the  political  fcene,  patriotifm  does  not  forbid  it. 

In  looking  forward  to  the  moment,  which  is  intended 
to  terminate  the  career  of  my  public  life,  my  feelings  do 
not  permit  me  to  fufpend  the  deep  acknowledgment  of  that 
debt  of  gratitude  which  I  owe  to  my  beloved  country,  for 
the  many  honours  it  has  conferred  upon  me ;  and  ftill  more 
for  the  ftedfaft  confidence  with  which  it  has  fupported  me  ; 
and  for  the  opportunities  I  have  thence  enjoyed  of  mani- 
fefting  my  inviolable  attachment  by  Cervices  faithful  and 
perfevering,  though  in  ufefulnefs  unequal  to  my  xeal.  If 
benefits  have  refulted  to  our  country  from  thefe  fervices, 
let  it  always  be  remembered  to  our  praife,  and  as  an  in- 
ftructive  example  in  our  annals,  that  under  circumftances 
in  which  the  paflions,  agitated  in  every  direction,  were  li- 
able to  miflead,  amidfl  appearances  fometimes  dubious— 
vicitfitudes  of  fortune,  often  difcouraging  in  fituations,  in 
which  not  unfrequently  want  of  fuccefs  has  countenanced 
thefpirit  of  criticifm — the  conflancy  of  your  fupport  was 
the  effential  prop  of  the  efforts,  and  a  guarantee  of  the 
plans,  by  which  they  were  effected.  Profoundly  penetra- 
ted with  this  idea,  I  (hall  carry  it  with  me  to  my  grave,  as 
a  ftrong  incitement  to  uneeafmg  vows,  that  Heaven  may 
continue  to  you  the  choiceft  tokens  of  its  beneficence— that 
your  union  and  brotherly  affection  may  be  perpetual— that 
the  free  Confritution,  which  is  the  work  of  your  hands, 
may  be  facredly  maintained  —  that  its  adminiftration  irt 
every  department  may  be  ftamped  with  wifdom  and  vir- 
tue— That,  in  fine,  the  happinefs  of  the  people  of  thefe 
States,  under  the  aufpices  of  Liberty,  may  be  made  com- 
plete, by  fo  careful  a  prefervation  and  fo  prudent  a  ufe  of 
this  blefling,  as  will  acquire  to  them  the  glory  of  recom- 
mending it  to  the  applaufe,  the  affection,  and  adoption  of 
every  nation  which  is  yet  a  ftranger  to  it. 


r0    HIS    COUNTRY.  67 

Here,  perhaps,  I  ought  to  ftop. — But  folicitude  for 
your  welfare,  which  cannot  end  but  with  my  lite,  and  the 
apprehenfion  of  danger  natural  to  that  foiicitude,  urge  me, 
on  an  occafion  like  the  prefent,  to  offer  to  your  folemn 
contemplation,  and  to  recommend  to  your  frequent  re- 
view, forae  fentiments  which  are  the  rcfult  of  much  reflec- 
tion, of  no  inconfiderable  observation,  and  which  appear  to 
me  all  important  to  the  permanency  of  your  felicity  as  a 
people.  Thefe  will  be  offered  to  you  with  the  more  free- 
dom, as  you  can  only  feel  in  them  the  difmterefted  warn- 
ings of  a  parting  friend,  who  can  poffibly  have  no  perfonal 
motive  to  bias  his  counfeh  Nor  can  I  forget,  as  an  encou- 
ragement to  it,  your  indulgent  reception  of  my  fentiments 
on  a  former  and  not  diffimllar  occafion. 

Interwoven  as  is  the  love  of  Liberty  with  every  ligament 
of  your  hearts,  no  recommendation  of  mine  is  necefTary 
to  fortify  or  confirm  the  attachment. 

The  unity  of  government  which  conftitutes  you  one 
people,  is  alfo  now  dear  to  you.  It  is  jufljy  fo;  for  it  is 
a  main  pillar  in  the  edifice  of  youF  real  independence,  the 
ftipport  of  your  tranquility  at  home,  your  peace  abroad; 
of  your  fafety;  of  your  profperity  ;  of  that  very  Liberty 
which  you  fo  highly  prize.  But,  as  it  is  eafy  tp  forefee, 
that  from  different  caufes  and  from  different  quarters, 
much  pains  will  be  taken,  many  artifices  employed,  to 
weaken  in  your  minds  the  conviction  of  this  truth  ;  as  this 
is  the  point  in  your  political  fortrefs,  againft  which  the 
batteries  of  internal  and  external  enemies  will  be  mod  con- 
ftantly  and  actively  (though  often  covertly  and  infiduoufly) 
directed,  it  is  of  infinite  moment  that  you  fiiould  properly 
eftimate  the  irnmenfe  value  of  your  national  union,  to  your 
collective  and  individual  happinefs;  that  you  fhould  che- 
fjfh  a  cordial,  habitual  and  immovable  attachment  to  it ; 


65  HIS    LEGACr 

accuflcming  yourfelves  to  think  and  fpeak  of  it  as  of  the 
palladium  of  your  political  fafety  and  profperity,  watching 
for  its  prefervation  with  jealous  anxiety  ;  difcountenancing 
whatever  may  fuggeft  even  a  fufpicion  that  it  can  in  any 
event  be  abandoned,  and  indignantly  frowning  upon  the 
firft  dawning  of  every  attempt  to  alienate  any  portion  of 
our  country  from  the  reft,  or  to  enfeeble  the  facred  ties 
which  now  link  together  the  various  parts. 

For  this  you  have  every  inducement  of  fvmpathy  and 
intereft.  Citizens,  by  birth  or  choice,  of  a  common  coun- 
try, that  country  has  a  right  to  concentrate  your  afTeaions. 
The  name  of  American,  which  belongs  to  you  in  your  na- 
tional capacity,  muft  always  exalt  the  juft  pride  of  patriots 
ifm,  more  than  any  appellation  derived  from  local  difcrimir 
nations.  With  flight  (hades  of  difference,  you  have  the 
fame  religion,  manners,  habits  and  political  principles.  Yoij 
have  in  a  common  caufe  fought  and  triumphed  together ; 
the  Independence  and  Liberty  you  poflefs  are  the  work  of 
ijoint  councils,  and  joint  efforts,  of  common  dangers,  fuf-* 
ferings  and  fuccefles. 

But  thefe  confiderations  however  powerfully  they  acl-y 
clrefs  themfelves  to  your  fenfibility,  are  greatly  outweigh- 
ed by  thofe  which  apply  more  immediately  to  yourinterefL 
Here  every  portion  of  our  country  finds  the  moft  com-* 
manding  motives  for  carefully  guarding  and  preferving  the 
union  of  the  whole. 

The  North,  in  an  unreftrained  intercourfe  with  the 
South,  protected  by  the  equal  laws  of  a  common  govern- 
ment, finds,  in  the  productions  of  the  latter,  great  additional 
refources  of  maritime  and  commercial  enterprize,  and  pre- 
cious materials  of  manufacturing  induftry  The  South,  in 
the  fame  intercourfe,  benefiting  by  the  agency  of  the  North, 
fees  its  agriculture  grow?  and  its  commerce  expand.  Turn- 
ing 


HIS  COUWRT.  eg 


ing  partly  into  its  own  channels  the  Teamen  of  the 
it  finds  its  particular  navigation  invigorated  —  and  while  it 
contributes  in  different  ways,  to  notiriftt  and  increafe  the 
general  mafs  of  the  national  navigation,  it  looks  forward 
to  the  protection  of  a  maritime  ftrength,  to  which  itfelf  is 
unequally  adapted.  The  Eafl  in  a  like  intcrcourfe  with 
the  Weft,  already  finds,  and  in  the  progreflive  improve- 
ment of  interior  communications,  by  land  and  water,  will 
more  and  more  find  a  valuable  vent  for  the  commodities 
which  it  brings  from  abroad,  or  manufactures  at  home. 
The  Weft  derives  from  the  Eaft  fupplies  requifite  for  its 
growth  and  comfort  —  and  what  is  perhaps  of  ftill  greater 
confequence,  it  muft  of  neceffity  owe  thefeaire  enjoyment 
pf  indifpenfabie  outlets  for  its  own  productions,  to  the 
weight,  influence,  and  future  maritime  ftrength  of  the  At- 
lantic fide  of  the  Union,  directed  by  an  indiflbluble  com- 
munity of  intereft  as  ONE  UNION.  Any  other  tenure  by 
which  the  Weft  can  hold  this  eflential  advantage,  whether 
derived  from  its  own  feparate  ftrength,  or  from  an  apoftate 
and  unnatural  connexion  with  any  foreign  power,  muft  be 
jntrinfically  precarious. 

While  then  every  part  of  ourCountry  thus  feels  an  im- 
mediate and  particular  intereft  in  union,  all  the  parts  com- 
bined cannot  fail  t©  find  in  the  united  mafs  of  means  and 
efforts,  greater  ftrength,  greater  refource,  proportionably 
greater  fecurity  from  external  danger,  a  lefs  frequent  inter- 
ruption of  their  peace  by  foreign  nations  ;  and,  what  is  of 
ineftimable  value,  they  muft  derive  from  union  an  exemp- 
tion from  thofe  broils  and  wars  between  themfelves,  which 
fo  frequently  afflict  neighbouring  countries,  not  tied  togeth- 
er by  the  fame  government  ;  which  their  own  rival  ihips 
alone  would  be  fufncient  to  produce,  but  which  oppofite 
foreign  alliances,  attachments  and  intrigues  would  ftimuiate 

and 


7*  -HIS    LEGACT 

and  imbitter.  Hence  likewife  they  will  avoid  the  neceffity 
of  thofe  overgrown  military  eftablimments,  which  under 
any  form  of  government,  are  inaufpicious  to  Liberty,  and 
whicfrare  to  be  regarded  as  particularly  hoftile  to  republi- 
*tf«Liber*y  ;  In  this  fenfe  it  is,  that  your  Union  ought  to  be 
confidered  as  a  main  prop  of  your  Liberty,  and  the  love  of 
the  one  ought  to  endear  to  you  the  prefervation  of  the  other. 
Thefe  confiderations  fpeak  a  perfuafive  language  to  eve- 
ry reflecting  and  virtuous  mind,  and  exhibit  the  continuance 
of  the  Union  as  a  primary  object  of  a  patriotic  defire.  Is 
there  a  doubt  whether  a  common  government  can  embrace 
fo  large  a  fphere  ? — Let  experience  folve  it.  To  liften  to 
mere  fpeculation  in  fuch  a  cafe  were  criminal.  We  are 
authorized  to  hope  that  a  proper  organization  of  the  whole, 
with  the  auxiliary  agency  of  governments  for  the  refpec- 
live  fubdivifions,  will  afford  a  happy  iflue  to  the  experi- 
ment. 'Tis  well  worth  a  fair  and  full  experiment.  With 
fuch  powerful  and  obvious  motives  to  the  Union,  affecting 
all  parts  of  our  country,  while  experiment  (hall  not  have 
ckmonflrated  its  impracticability,  there  will  always  be  rea- 
fon  to  diftruft  the  patriotifm  of  tkofe,  who,  in  any  quarter, 
may  endeavour  to  weaken  its  bands. 

In  contemplating  the  caufes  which  may  difturb  our 
union,  it  occurs  as  matter  of  ferious  concern,  that  any 
ground  mould  be  furnifhed  for  ch  a  racier  ifing  parries,  by 
Geographical  difcriminations — Northern  and  Southern — At- 
lantic and  Weftern  ;  whence  defigning  men  may  endeavour 
to  excite  a  belief,  that  there  is  a  real  difference  of  local  uv 
terefts  and  views.  One  of  the  expedients  of  Party  to  ac- 
quire influence,  within  particular  diftri&s,  is  to  mifrepre- 
fent  the  opinions  and  aims  of  other  diftri&s.  You  cannot 
fhteld  yourfelvcs  too  much  againft  the  jealoufies  and  heart 
burnings  which  fpring  from  thefe  mifreprefentations ;  they 

tencj 


crO    HIS    COUtiTRf.  71 

fend  to  render  alien  to  each  other  thofe  who  ought  to  be 
bound  together  by  fraternal  affection.  The  inhabitants  of 
our  Weftern  Country  have  lately  had  a  ufeful  leflbn-oh  this 
head  :  They  have  feen  in  the  negotiation  by  the  Executive, 
and  in  the  unanimous  ratification  by  the  Senate,'  of  the 
treaty  with  Spain,  and  in  the  univerfal  fatisfa&ion  at  that 
event  throughout  the  United  States,  a  decifive  proof  how 
unfounded  were  the  fufpicions  propagated  among  them  of 
a  policy  in  the  general  government  and  in  the  Atlantic 
States,  unfriendly  to  their  interefts  in  regard  to  the  Mif/iT- 
fippi :  They  have  been  witnefies  to  the  formation  of  two 
treaties,  that  with  Great  Britain  and  that  with  Spain, 
which  fecure  to  them  every  thing  they  could  defire  in 
refpcft  to  our  foreign  relations,  towards  confirming  their 
profperity.  Will  it  not  be  their  wjfdom  to  rely  for  the 
prefervation  of  thefe  advantages,  on  the  union  by  which 
they  were  procured  ?  Will  they  not  henceforth  be  deaf  to 
thofe  advifers,  if  fuch  there  are,  who  would  fever  them 
from  their  brethren,  and  connect  them  with  Aliens  ? 

To  the  efficacy  and  permanency  of  your  Union,  a  gov- 
ernment for  the  whole  is  indifpenfable.  No  alliances,  how- 
ever ftricl:  between  the  parts,  can  be  an  adequate  fubftitute; 
they  will  inevitably  experience  the  infractions  and  interrup- 
tions which  all  alliances  in  all  times  have  experienced.  Sen- 
fible  of  this  momentous  truth,  you  have  improved  upon 
your  firft  e(Tay,  by  the  adoption  of  a  conditution  of  gov- 
ernment, better  calculated  than  your  former,  for  an  inti- 
mate Union,  and  for  the  efficacious  management  of  your 
common1  concerns.  This  Government,  the  offspring  of 
your  own  choice,  uninfluenced  and  una,wed,  adopted  up- 
on full  inveftigation  and  mature  deliberation,  completely- 
free  in  its  principles,  in  the  diftribution  of  its  powers,  unit- 
ing fecurity  with  energy,  and  containing  within  itfelf  a  pro- 

Vi- 


LEGACY 

vifion  for  its  own  amendment,  has  a  juft  claim  to  your  c 
fidence  and  your  fupport.  Refpe<5t  for  its  authority,  com- 
pliance with  its  laws,  acquiefcence  in  its  rneafures,  are  du- 
ties enjoined  by  the  fundamental  maxims  of  true  Liberty. 
The  bafis  of  our  political  fyitemsis  the  right  of  the  People 
to  make  and  to  alter  their  cdnfti'tutions  of  government. 
But,  the  Conftitution  which  at  any  timeexifls,  until  chang- 
ed by  an  explicit  and  authentic  a&  of  the  whole  People,  is 
facredly  obligatory  upon  all.  The  very  idea  of  the  pow- 
er and  the  right  of  the  People  to  eftabliih  Government, 
prefuppofes  the  duty  of  every  individual  to  obey  the  eftab- 
hlhed  Government. 

All  obftructions  to  the  execution  of  the  laws,  all  com- 
binations and  aflbciations,  under  whatever  plaufible  charac- 
ter, with  the  real  defign  to  dire£r,  controul,  counteract  or 
awe  the  regular  deliberation  and  action  of  the  constituted 
authorities,  are  deftru6tive  of  this  fundamental  principle, 
and  of  fatal  tendency.  They  ferve  to  organize  Faction,  t6 
give  it  an  artificial  and  extraordinary  force — to  put  in  thd 
place  of  the  delegated  will  of  the  nation,  the  will  of  a  Par- 
ty, often  a  fmall  but  artful  and  enterprifing  minority  of  the 
community  ;  and,  according  to  the  alternate  triumphs  of 
different  parties,  to  make  the  public  administration  the  mir- 
ror of  the  ill  concerted  and  incongruous  projects  of  Fadion, 
rather  than  the  organ  of  confident  and  wholefome  plans 
dtgefted  by  common  councils,  and  modified  by  mutual 
interefts.  —  However  combinations  or  aflbciations  of  the 
above  defcription,  may  now  and  then  anfwer  popular  ends, 
they  are  likely,  in  the  courfe  of  time  and  things,  to  be- 
come potent  engines,  by  which  cunning,  ambitious,  and 
unprincipled  men,  will  be  enabled  to  fubvert  the  power  of 
the  People,  and  to  ufurp  for  themfelves  the  reins  of  Go- 
vernment ;  deftroying  afterwards  the  very  engines  which 
lifted  them  to  unjuft  dominion.  To* 


TO    HIS    COUN'TRr.  73 

*iSri  Towards  the  prefervation  of  your  government,  and  the 
permanency  of  your  prefent  happy  ftate>  it  is  requifite,  not 
only  that  you  {leadily  difcountenance  irregular  oppofition 
to  it's  acknowledged  authority,  hut  alfo  that  you  refifl:  with 
care,  the  fpirit  of  innovation  upon  its  principles,  however 
fpecious  tVie  pretexts.  One  method  of  aflault  may  be  to 
effect:,  in  the  forms  of  the  Conftitution,  alterations,  which 
will  impair  the  energy  of  the  fyftem,  and  thus  to  under- 
mine what  cannot  be  direclly  overthrown.  In  all  the 
changes  to  which  you  may  be  invited,  remember  that  time 
and  habit  are  at  leaft  as  nccefiary  to  fix  the  true  charac- 
ter of  Government,  as  of  other  human  inftitutions ;  that 
experience  is  the  ftireft  ftandard,  by  which  to  left  the  real 
tendency  of  the  exifting  conftitution  of  a  country — that 
facility  in  changes  upon  the  credit  of  mere  hypothecs  and 
opinion,  expofes  to  perpetual  change  from  the  endlefs  va- 
riety of  hypothefis  and  opinion;  and  remember,  efpecial- 
ly,  that  for  the  efficient  management  of  your  common  in- 
tereft,  in  a  country  To  extenfive  as  ours,  a  government  of 
as  much  vigor  as  is  confident  with  the  perfect  fecurity  of 
Liberty,  is  indifpenfable.  Liberty  itfelf  will  find  in  fuch  a 
government,  with  powers  properly  distributed  and  aiijufted, 
its  fureft  guardian.  It  is,  indeed,  little  elfe  than  a  name, 
where  the  government  is  too  feeble  to  withftand  the  enter- 
prifes  of  Faction,  to  confine  each  member  of  the  fociety 
within  the  limits  prefcribed  by  the  laws,  and  to  maintain 
all  in  the  fecure  and  tranquil  enjoyment  of  the  rights  of 
perfon  and  property. 

I  have  already  intimated  to  you,  the  danger  of  Parties 
in  the  ftate,  with  particular  reference  to  the  founding  of 
them  on  geographical  difcriminations.  Let  me  now  take  a 
more  comprehenfive  view,  and  warn  you,  in  the  moft  fo- 
iemn  manner,  againft  the  baneful  clefts  of  a  fpirit  of  Par- 
ty generally.  L  This 


74 

'This  fpirit,  unfortunately,  is  infeparable  from  our  fia-* 
ture,  having  its  root  in  the  flrongeft  paflions  of  the  human 
mind.  It  exifls  under  different  fhapes  in  all  governments— 
more  or  lefs  {lifted,  ccntrouled,  or  reprefled  ;  but  in  thofe 
of  the  popular  form,  it  is  feen  in  its  greatefl  ranknefs,  and 
is  truly  their  xvorft  enemy. 

The  alternate  domination  of  one  facYion  over  another, 
fuarpened  by  the  fpirit  of  revenge,  natural  to  party  diflen- 
tion,  which  in  different  ages  and  countries  has  perpetrated 
the  mod  horrid  enormities,  is  itfelf  a  moft  frightful  defpot- 
ifm — But  this  leads  at  length,  to  a  more  formal  and  perma- 
nent defpotifm.  The  diforders  and  miferies  which  refulr, 
gradually  incline  the  minds  of  men  to  feek  fecurity  and  re- 
pofe  in  the  abfolute  power  of  an  individual  ;  and,  fooner  or 
later,  the  chief  of  fome  prevailing  faction,  more  able  or 
more  fortunate  than  his  competitors,  turns  this  difpofition 

to  the  purpofes  of  his  own  elevation,  on  the  ruins  of  public 
liberty.* 

Without  looking  forward  to  an  extremity  of  this  kind 
(which  neverthelefs  ought  not  to  be  entirely  out  of  fight) 
the  common  and  continual  mifchiefs  of  the  fpirit  of  Party 
are  fufficient  to  make  it  the  intereft  and  duty  of  a  wife  peo- 
ple to  difcourage  and  reflrainrt. 

It  ferves  always  to  didracl:  the  public  councils  and  enfee- 
ble the  public  adminiftration.  It  agitates  the  community 
\vith  ill  founded  jealouftes  and  falfe  alarms ;  kindles  the  ani- 
mofity  of  one  prrt  againft. another  ;  foments  occafionally 
riot  and  infurrection,  and  it  opens  the  door  to  foreign  influ- 
ence and  corruption,  which  find  a  facilitated  accefs  to  the 
government  itfelf  through  the  channels  of  party  paffions, 
Thus  the  policy  and  will  of  one  country  are  fubje&ed  to 
the  policy  and  will  of  another.  There 

This  is  an  important  truth,  verified  by  a  number  of  hiftorical 
inftances. — At  this  time,  we  caft  an  anxious  look  upon  France,  eager 
to  know,  what,  at  length,  will  be  the  iflue  of  the  many  fanguinary  con- 
tefts  of  the  various  Parties  which  have  afflicted  and  diigraced  the 
taufe  of  Liberty  in  that  fine  Country. 


TO    fJIS    COUN-TRT.  %      75 

There  is  an  opinion  that  Parties  in  free  countries  arc 
ttfeful  checks  upon  the  adminiftration  of  the  government, 
and  ferve  to  keep  alive  the  fpirit  of  Liberty.  This  within 
certain  limits  is  probably  true,  and  in  governments  of  a  Mo- 
narchical caft,  ratriotifm  may  look  with  indulgence,  if  not 
with  favour  upon  the  fpirit  of  Party.  But  in  thofe  of  the 
popular  character,  in  governments  purely  elective/' it  is  a 
fpirit  not  to  be  encouraged.  From  their  natural  tendency, 
it  is  certain  there  will  always  be  enough  of  that  fpirit  for 
every  falutary  purpofe.  And  there  being  conftant  danger, 
.of  excefs,  the  effort  ought  to  be  by  force  of  public  opinion 
to  mitigate  and  afluage  it— A  fire  not  to  be  quenched,  it 
demands  uniform  vigilance  to  prevent  its  burfting  into  3 
flame,  left  inftead  of  warming  it  mould  confume. 

It  is  important  likewife,  that  the  habits  of  thinking  In 
a  free  country  (hould  infpire  caution  in  thofe  intruded 
with  its  adminiftration,  to  confine  themfelves  within  their 
refpe&ive  conftitutional  fpheres,  avoiding,  in  the  exercjfe 

*  * 

of  the  powers  of  one  department,  to  encroach  upon  ano- 
ther. The  fpirit  of  Encroachment  tends  to  confolidate 
the  powers  of  all  the  departments  in  .one,  and  thus  to  cre- 
ate, whatever  be  the  form  of  government,  a  real  Dei.- 
potifm.  A  jiifl  eftimate  of  that  loye  of  power,  and  prone- 
nefs  to  abufe  it,  which  predominates  in  the  human  heart, 
is  fufficient  to  fatisfy  us  of  the  truth  of  this  pofidon.  The 
neceffity  of  reciprocal  checks  in  the  exercife  of  the  politi- 
cal power,  by  dividing  and  dirtriluting  it  into  different  de- 
pofitories,  and  conftituting  each  the  guardian  of  the  Public 
Weal  againft  invafions  by  the  others,  has  been  evinced  by 
experiments  ancient  and  modern,  fomeof  them  in  our  own 
country,  and  under  our  own  eyes.  To  prefer ve  them  mutt 
be  as  neceflary  as  to  inftitute  them.  If,  in  the  opinion  of 
£he  People,  the  diftributicn  or  modiBgation  of  the  confti- 

L  2  tu> 


76  HIS    LEGACY. 

tutional  powers  be  wrong  in  any  particular,  let  it  be  cor- 
reeled  by  an  amerrdment  in  the  way  which  the  Conftitu- 
tion  defignates — but  let  there  be  no  change  by  ufur potion  ; 
for  tho'  this,  in  one  inftance,  may  be  the  inftrument  of 
good,  it  is  the  cuftomary  weapon  by  which  free  Govern- 
ments are  deftroyed.  The  precedent  muft  always  greatly 
over-balance,  in  permanent  evil,  any  partial  or  tranfient 
benefit  which  the  ufe  can  at  any  time  yield. 

*&  Of  all  the  difpofitions  and  habits  which  lead  to 
political  Profperity,  RELIGION  and  MORALITY  are  its 
indifpenfable  fupports.  In  vain  would  the  man  claim  the 
tribute  of  Patriotifm,  who  would  labour  to  fubvert  thefe 
great  pillars  of  human  happinefs,  thefe  firmcfl  props  of  the 
duties  of  Men  and  Citizens.  The  mere  Politician,  equally 
with  the  pious  Man,  ought  to  refpect  and  to  cherifh  them. 
A  volume  could  not  trace  all  their  connections  with  pri- 
vate and  public  felicity.  Let  it  fimply  be  aiked,  where  is 
the  fecurity  for  property,  for  reputation,  for  life,  if  the 
fenfe  of  religious  obligation  defert  the  oaths  which  are  the 
instruments  of  inveftigation  in  Courts  of  Juftice? — And, 
let  us  with  caution  indulge  the  fuppofition,  that  Morality 
can  be  maintained  without  Religion.  Whatever  may  be 
conceded  to  the  influence  of  refined  education  on  minds  of 
peculiar  ftrtifhire,  Reafon  and  Experience  both  forbid  us 
to  expect,  that  national  Morality  can  prevail  in  exclufion 
of  religious  Principle.  *  It 

*  Americans ! — Virginians ! — read  and  well  consider  this  pafiage — • 
Ye  Legislators  of  the  People,  Fathers  of  Families,  and  Matters  of 
Servants,  liften  to  the  fublime  precepts  of  your  infpired  Countryman ! 

It  was  this  fentiment  that  fo  forcibly  ftruck  the  French  Orator.— 
When  the  infamous  Robefpierre  was  endeavouring  to  fubvert  Religion, 
M.  Lally  Tolendall,  in  his  Addrefs  to  the  People  of  France,  after 
Ihewingj  in  a  variety  of  arguments,  the  neceflaty  and  importance  of 
Religious  Duties,  he  fums  up  the  whole  by  a  reference  to  Preiident 
"Washington's  Farewell  Addrefs  to  the  People  of  America  :'— 


rO    HIS    COUNT RT.  77 

It  is  fulftantially  true,  that  VIRTUE,  or  M  o  R  A  L  i  T  Y , 
*V  a  ne.ceffary  fprlng  of  popular  Gwernm  nt. — The  rule  in- 
deed extends  with  more  or  lefs  force  to  every  fpecies  of 
free  Government.— Who  that  is  a  (incere  friend  to  it,  can 
look  with  indifference  upon  attempts  to  fhake  the  founda- 
tion of  the  venerable  fabric  ? 

Promote,  then,  as  an  object  of  primary  importance,  in- 
ftitutions  for  the  general  diffufion  of  Knowledge.  In  pro- 
portion as  the  ftru  6hire  of  a  Government  gives  force  to 
public  opinion,  it  is  elTential  that  public  opinion  ihould  be 
enlightened.*  As 

"  You  will  be  ftill  more  forcibly  {truck,  by  receiving;  this  im- 
portant lefibn  [on  Religion]  from  a  Perfonage  who  is  now  THE  MAIT 
OF  THE  AGE  ;  who  has  founded  thirteen  Republics  in  one;  who  lias  , 
been  the  firft  Governor  of  them ;  and  who,  having  fuccelfively  iilled 
the  offices  of  General,  Legiflator,  and  fupreme  M agiilrate,  has  given 
a  glorious  contradi&ion  to  Macbiavetisin,  in  not  having  advanced,  dur- 
ing his  triple  authority,  a  Jingle  flep  which  "Virtue  did  not  regulate,. 
and  in  having  obtained  in  each  of  them  all  the  fuccefs  which  Fortune 
could  bellow. — French  Republicans  !  liften  to  the  Prefldent  of  the  li- 
nked States  of  America — take  up  that  WILL  of  the  illuftrums  WASH- 
INGTON, which  the  AMERICANS,  '^"^  if  they  are  worthy  of  it,  *  wiH 
preferve  in  the  lame  manner  as  the  Jews  preferved  the  Tables  of  Mo- 
fes,  and  read  that  paffage,  which  I  tranfcribe  with  a  refpeft  that  is  . 
divided  between  the  holy  truths  which  it  contains,  and  the  venerable 
Jaand  that  traced  them  !  "— — • 

[*  "  If  they  are  worthy" — What!  Did  the  Frenchman  fufpeft  the 
Americans  to  be  unworthy,  or  infeniible,  of  the  bleiTings  of  a  Free 
Cocititution  ?] 

*  Here  is  another  important  precept.  —  "  There  is  no  article  of  fa 
touch  importance  to  Society,  as  a  well  regulated  Syftem  of  EDUCA- 
TION— where  that  is  wanting,  no  advantage  of  climate  or  fituation, 
of  rank  or  fituation,  can  make  that  Society  virtuous  and  refpe£able. 
,:•:  Thefe  are  truths,  folemn  truths,  to  which  the  people  of  thefe  Sta'es 
ought  moft  ferioufly  attend  —  They  fhould  know,  that  no  Common-  ) 
wealth,  or  Republic,  can  laft  creditably  but  by  Virtue;  and  that  Vir- 
tue Cannot  be  implanted,  cannot  be  the  ruling,  the  leading,  the  guid- 
ing principle,  unlefs  the  youth  of  the  country  are  early  and  afliduoully 
intruded,  and  bred  to  habits  of  induihy  and  oeconomy.'' 

Within  thefe  few  months  we  have  been  pleafed  to  obferve,  that  tlte 
Legiilatures  of  New  York,  Penntyivania,  ard  Maryland,  have  taken 
fteps  to  improve  the  Education  of  their  different  States,  not  only  by 
granting  monies  to  affift  Colleges  and  Academies,  but  alfo  to  extend 
the  beneiits  of  Pariih  and  County  Schools  over  the  Country. 


7$  HIS    LEGACT 

As  a  very  important  fource  of  ftrength  and  fecurity, 
cherith  Public  Credit.  One  method  of  preserving  it,  is  to 
life  it  as  fparingly  as  pofTible ;  avoiding  occafions  of  ex- 
pence  by  afiiduoufly  cultivating  peace,  but  remembering 
alfo,  that  timely  difburfements  to  prepare  for  danger,  fre- 
quently prevent  much  greater  difburfemeuls  to  repel  it- 
Avoiding  likewife  the  accumulation  of  Debt,  not  only  by 
fhunning  occafions  of  expense,  but  by  vigorous  exertions, 
in  time  of  peace,  to  difcharge  the  debts  which  unavoida- 
ble wars  may  have  occafioned,  not  ungeneroufly  throwing 
upon  poflerity  the  burthen  which  we  ourfelves  ought  tq 
bear. — The  execution  of  thefe  maxims  belongs  to  yourRe- 
prefentatives ;  but  it  is  neceflary  that  public  opinion  mould 
co-operate.  To  facilitate  to  them  the  performance  of 
their  duty,  it  is  eflential  that  you  mould  practically  bear  in 
mind,  that  towards  the  payment  of  national  debts  there 
muft  be  revenue — that  to  have  revenue  there  muft  be  taxes 
• — and  no  tax  can  be  devifed  which  is  not  more  or  4efs  in- 
convenient and  unpleafant — that  the  intrinfic  embarrafs- 
ment  infeparable  from  the  feleclion  of  the  proper  objects 
(whicr^  is  always  a  choice  of  difficulties)  ought  to  be  a  de» 
cifive  motive  for  a  candid  construction  of  the  conduct  of 
the  Government  in  making  it,  and  for  a  fpirit  of  acqui- 
efcence  in  the  meafures  for  obtaining  revenue,  which  the 
public  exigencies  may  at  any  time  dictate. 

.  Gbferve  good  faith  and  juftice  towards  all  nations — 
cultivate  peace  and  harmony  with  all — Religion  and  Mo- 
rality enjoin  this  conduct — and  can  it  be,  that  good  policy 
does  not  equally  enjoin  it  ?  < —  It  will  be  worthy  of  a  free, 
enlightened,  and,  at  no  diftant  period,  a  great  nation,  to 
give  to  mankind  the  magnanimous  and  too  novel  example 
of  a  People  always  guided  by  Juftice  and  Benevolence. — 
Who  can  doubt,  that,  in  the  courfe  of  time  and  things, 

the 


ro  HIS  couwfRr.  n 

the  fruits  of  fuch  a  plan  would  richly  repay  any  temporary 
advantages  which  might  be  loft  by  a  fteady  adherence  to 
it?  —  Can  it  be,  that  Providence  has  not  connected  the 
permanent  felicity  of  a  Nation  with  Virtue?  —  The  ex- 
periment, at  lead,  is  recommended  by  every  fentiment 
which  ennobles  human  nature.  —  Alas  !  is  it  rendered  im- 
poilible  by  its  vices?  * 

In  the  execution  of  fuch  a  plan,  nothing  is  more  efTen- 
tial  than  that  ill  grounded  antipathies  agatnft  particular 
nations,  and  paflionate  attachments  for  others,  mould  be 
excluded;  and  that,  in  the  place  of  them,  jufl  and  ami- 
cable feelings  towards  all  fhould  be  cultivated.  The  Na- 
tion, which  indulges  towards  another  an  habitual  hatred, 
or  an  habitual  fondnefs,  is,  in  fome  degree,  a  (lave — It  is 
a  flave  to  its  animofity,  or  to  its  affection,  either  of  which 
is  fufficient  to  lead  it  aftray  from  its  duty  and  its  intereft. 
—Antipathy  in  one  Nation  againft  another,  difpofes  each 
more  readily  to  offer  infult  and  injury,  to  lay  hold  of 
flight  caufes  of  umbrage,  and  to  be  haughty  and  intracti- 
cable  when  accidental  or  trifling  occafions  of  difpute  oc- 
cur— Hence  frequent  collifions,  obftinate,  envenom'd  and 
bloody  contefts.  The  nations  prompted  by  ill  will  and  re- 
fentment,  fometimes  impels  to  war  the  government,  con- 
trary to  the  bed  calculations  of  policy.  The  government 
fometimes  participates  in  the  national  propenfity,  and  a- 
dopts  through  paffion  what  reafon  would  reject ;  at  other 
times,  it  makes  the  animofity  of  the  nation  fubfervient  to 
projects  of  hoftility  infligated  by  pride,  ambition,  and  other 

fmi- 

*  Criticifm  has  failened  its  fafudious  claw  on  this  fentence — An 
acute  Grammarian  may  fliew  his  profound  fkill  in  moods,  and  tenfcs, 
and  nominative  cafes,  &.c. — The  sense  of  the  paragraph,  however,  is 
eafily  underilood ;  and,  as  to  the  sentiment,  it  not  only  does  great  hon- 
our to  the  goodnefs  of  the  Writer's  heart,  but  deferves  the  raoft  feri- 
;OUs  attention  of  the  American  Government. 


So  HIS    LEGACT 

fmiftcr  and  pernicious  motives.  The  peace  often,  fome- 
times  the  liberty,  of  nations  has  been  the  vicYim. 

So  likewife,  a  pafiionate  attachment  of  one  nation  for 
another  induces  a  variety  of  evils.  Sympathy  for  the  fa- 
vourite nations  facilitating  the  illufion  of  an  imaginary  com- 
mon intereft,  in  cafes  where  no  real  common  intereft  ex- 
ifts,  and  infufing  into  one  the  enmities  of  the  other,  betrays 
the  former  into  a  participation  in  the  quarrels  and  wars  of 
the  latter,  without  adequate  inducement  or  juftification.-— 
It  leads  alfo  to  conceiTions  to  the  favourite  nation  of  privi- 
leges denied  to  others,  which  is  apt  doubly  to  injure  the 
nation  making  the'concefiions;  by  unneceffarily  parting  with 
what  ought  to  have  been  retained  ;  and,  by  exciting  jealou- 
fy,  ill  will,  a  difpofition  to  retaliate,  in  the  parties  from 
whom  equal  privileges  are  withheld  ;  and  it  gives  to  am- 
bitious, corrupted,  or  deluded  Citizens  (who  devote  them- 
felves  to  the  favourite  nation)  facility  to  betray,  or  facrr- 
fice,  the  interefts  of  their  own  country,  without  odium, 
fometimes  even  with  popularity ;  gilding  with  the  appear- 
ances of  a  virtuous  fenfe  of  obligation,  a  commendable  de- 
ference for  public  opinion,  or  a  laudable  zeal  for  the  public 
good,  the  bafe  or  foolifh.  compliances  of  ambition,  corrup- 
tion, or  infatuation. 

As  avenues  to  foreign  influence  in  innumerable  ways, 
fuch  attachments  are  particularly  alarming  to  the  truly  en- 
jightened  and  independent  Patriot.  How  many  opportuni- 
ties do  they  afford  to  tamper  with  dome/lie  factions,  to 
pra&ife  the  arts  of  feduction,  to  miflead  public  opinion,  to 
influence  or  awe  the  public  councils ! — Such  an  attachment 
of  a  fmall  or  weak,  towards  a  great  and  powerful  nation, 
dooms  the  former  to  be  the  fatellite  of  the  latter. 

Againft  the  infidious  wiles  of  foreign  influence  (I  con- 
jure you  to  believe  me,  Fellow  Citizens)  the  jealoufy  of  a 

free 


ro    HIS    COUtfTRf.  8r 

free  People  ought  to  be  conftantly  awake  ;  fince  hiftory  and 
experience  prove,  that  foreign  influence  is  one  of  the  molt 
baneful  foes  of  Republican  Government.  But  that  jeal- 
oufy,  to  be  ufeful,  muft  be  impartial,  elfe  it  becomes  the  in- 
ftrument  of  the  very  influence  to  be  avoided,  inftead  of  a 
defence  againft  it.  Bxceffive  partiality  for  one  foreign  na- 
tion, and  e xccfTive  diflike  of  another,  caufe  thofe  -whom 
they  actuate,  to  fee  danger  only  on  one  fide,  and  ferve  to 
veil  and  even  fecond  the  arts  of  influence  on  the  other. 
Real  Patriots,  who  may  refift  the  intrigues'of  the  favourite, 
are  liable  to  become  fufpccled  and  odious ;  while  its  tools 
and  dupes  ufntp  the  applaufe  and  confidence  of  the  people, 
to  furrender  their  interefts. 

The  great  rule  of  conduct  for  us  in  regard  to  foreign 
nations,  is,  in  extending  our  commercial  relations,  to  have 
with  them  as  little  political  connection  as  poflible.  So  far 
as  we  have  already  formed  engagements,  let  them  be  fulfil- 
led with  perfect  good  faith— Here  let  us  flop. 

Europe  has  a  fet  of  primary  interefts,  which  to  ns  have 
none,  or  a  very  remote  relation.  Hence  me  muft  be  en- 
gaged in  frequent  controverfics,  the  caufes  of  which  are  ef- 
fentially  foreign  to  our  concerns.  Hence,  therefore,  it  muft 
be  unwife  in  us  to  implicate  ourfelves,  by  artificial  ties,  in 
the  ordinary  vicififitudes  of  her  politics,  or  the  ordinary 
combinations  and  coilifions  of  her  friendihips'or  enmities. 

Our  detached  fituation  invites  and  enables  us  to  purfue 
a  different  courfe.  If  we  remain  one  people,  under  an  ef- 
ficient government,  the  period  is  not  far  off,  when  we  may 
defy  material  injury  from  external  annoyance  ;  when  we 
may  take  fuch  an  attitude  as  will  caufe  the  neutrality,  we 
may  at  any  time  refolve  upon,  to  be  fcrupuloufly  refpeclcd; 
•when  belligerent  nations,  tinder  the  impofiibility  of  making 
acquifitions  upon  us,  will  not  lightly  hazard  the  giving  m 

M  ro- 


•Sa  #/S    LEGACY* 

provocation  ;  when  we  may  choofe  peace  or  war,  as  oaf 
intereft,  guided  by  juflice,  ihall  counfel. 

Why  forego  the  advantages  of  fo  peculiar  a  fituation  ? 
—Why  quit  our  own  to  (land  upon  foreign  ground  ?— 
Why,  by  interweaving  our  deftiny  with  that  of  any  part  of 
Europe,  entangle  our  peace  and  profperity*in  the  toils  of 
European  ambition,  -rival  (hip,  intereft,  humour  or  caprice  ? 

*Tis  our  true  policy  to  fteer  clear  of  permanent  allian- 
ces, with  any  portion  of  the  foreign  world  ;  fo  far,  I  mean, 
as  we  are  at  liberty  to  do  it  ;  for  let  me  not  be  underftood 
as  capable  of  patronizing -infidelity  to  exifting  engagements. 
I  hold  the  maxim  no  lefs  applicable  to  public  than  to  pri- 
vate affairs,  that  "honefty  is  always  the  bed  policy."  I 
repeat  it,  therefore,  let  thofe  engagements  be  obfcrved  in 
their  genuine  fenfe.  But,  in  my  opinion,  it  is  unneceffary, 
and  would  be  unwife  to  extend  them. 

Taking  care,always  to  keep  ourfelves,  by  fuitable  efta- 
bliftiments,  on  a  refpefrable  defenfive  pofhire,  we  may 
fafely  truft  to  temporary  alliances  for  extraordinary  emer- 
gencies. 

Harmony,  and  a  liberal  intercourfe  with  all  nations,  are 
recommended  by  policy,  humanity,  and  interefl:. 

But  even  our  commercial  policy  mould  hold  an  equal 
and  impartial  hand  ;  neither  fending  or  granting  exclufive 
favours  or  preferences ;  confuting  the  natural  courfe  of 
things;  dififufmg  and  diversifying,  by  gentle  -means,  the 
flreams  of  commerce,  but  forcing  nothing;  eftablifliing, 
•with  powers  fo  difpofed,  in  order  to  give  trade  a  ftable 
courfe,  to  define  the  rights  of  our  merchants,  and  to  enable 
the  government  to  fupport  them,  conventional  rules  of 
intercourfe,  the  heft  that  prefent  circumftances  and  mutual 
opinion  will  permit,  but  temporary,  and  liable  to  be  from 
time  to  time  abandoned  or  varied  as  experience  or  circum- 

ftances 


TO    HIS    CQUNTRr.  83 

fiances  fhall  di&ate  ;  conftantly  keeping  in  view,  that  'tis 
folly  in  one  nation  to  look  for  diunterefted  favours  from  anr 
other  ;  that  it  muft  pay  with  a  portion  of  its  independence 
for  whatever  it  may  accept  under  that  character ;  that  by 
fuch  acceptance,  it  may  place  itfcif  in  the  condition  of  hav- 
ing given  equfvalents  for  nominal  favours,  and  yet  of  being 
reproached  with  ingratitude  for  not  giving  more.  There 
can  be  no  greater  error  than  to  expect,  or  calculate,  upon 
real  favours  from  nation  to  nation.  'Tis  an  illufion  which 
experience  muft  cure,  which  a  juft  pride  ought  to  difcard. 

In  offering  to  you,  my  Countrymen,  thefe  counfels  of 
an  old  affectionate  friend,  I  dare  hot  hope  they  will  make 
the  ftrong  and  lafting  impreflion  I  could  wifh — that  they 
will  controul  the  ufual  current  of  the  paffions,  or  prevent 
our  nation  from  running  the  courfe  which  has  hitherto 
marked  the  deftiny  of  nations  :  but  if  I  may  even  flatter 
myfelf,  that  they  may  be  productive  of  fome  partial  bene- 
fit, fome  occafional  good,  that  they  may  now  and  then 
recur  to  moderate  the  fury  of  party  fpirit,  to  warn  againft 
the  mifchiefs  of  foreign  intrigue,  to  guard  againft  the  5m- 
poftures  of  pretended  patriotifm  ;  this  hope  will  be  a  full 
recompence  for  the  folicitude  for  your  welfare,  by  which 
they  have  been  dictated. 

How  far  in  the  difcharge  of  my  official  duties,  I  have 
been  guided  by  the  principles  which  have  been  delineated, 
the  public  records  and  other  evidences  of  my  conduQ:  muft 
witnefs  to  you  and  the  worlct.  To  myfelf  the  adurance  of 
my  own  confcience  is,  that  I  have  at  leaft  believed  myfelf 
to  be  guided  by  them. 

In  relation  to  the  iliil  fubfifting  war  in  Europe,  my  pro- 
clamation of  the  22d  of  April,  1795,  is  the  index  to  my 
plan.  Sanctioned  by  your  approving  vcice^  and  by  that  of 

your  Representatives  in  both  Houfes  of  Ccngrefs,  the  fpirit 

M  2  of 


84  HIS    LEGACT 

of  that  meafure  has  continually  governed  me,  uninfluenc- 
ed by  any  attempts  to  deter  or  divert  me  from  it. 

After  deliberate  examination,  with  the  aid  of  the  bed 
lights  I  could  obtain,  I  was  well  fatisfied  that  bur  country, 
under  all  the  circumftarices  of  the  cafe,  had  a  right  to  take 
and  was  bound  in  duty  and  intereft  to  take,  a  neutral  pofi- 
tion.  Having  taken  it,  I  determined,  as  far  as  ihould  depend 
on  me,  to  maintain  it  with  moderation. 

The  confiderations  which  refpect  the  right  to  hold  this 
conduct,  it  is  not  neceflary  on  this  occafion  to  detail.  I 
will  only  obferve,  that  according  to  my  underftanding  of 
the  matter,  that  right,  fo  far  from  being  denied  by  any  of 
the  belligerent  Powers,  has  been  virtually  admitted  by  all. 
The  duty  of  holding  a  neutral  conduct:  may  be  inferred, 
without  any  thing  more,  from  the  obligation  which  juftice 
and  humanity  impofe  on  every  nation,  in  cafes  in  which  it 
is  free  to  act,  to  maintain  inviolate  the  relations  of  peace 
and  amity  towards  other  nations. 

The  inducements  of  intereft  for  obferving  that  conduct 
•will  be  bed  referred  to  your  own  reflections  and  experience. 
With  me,  a  predominenjt  motive  has  been  to  endeavour  to 
gain  time  to  ourCountry  to  fettle  and  mature  its  yet  recent 
inftitutions,  and  to  progrefs  without  interruption,  to  that 
degree  of  flrength  and  confiflency,  which  is  neceflary  to 
give  it  (humanly  fpeaking)  the  command  of  its  own  for- 
tunes. 

Though  in  reviewing  the  incidents  of  my  adminiftra- 
tion,  I  am  unconfcious  of  intentional  error,  I  am,  never- 
thelefs,  too  fenfible  of  my  defects  not  to  think  it  probable 
that  I  have  committed  many  errors. — Whatever  they  may 
be,  I  fervently  befeech  the  Almighty  to  avert  or  mitigate 
Vbe  evils  to  which  they  may  tend.  I  (hall  alfo  carry  with 

me 


TO    HIS    COUNT RT.  85 

me  the  hope  that  my  Country  will  never  ceafe  to  view 
them  with  indulgence  ;  and  that  after  forty-five  years  of 
my  life  dedicated  to  its  fervice,  with  an  upright  zeal,  the 
faults  of  incompetent  abilities  will  be  configned  to  oblivion, 
as  myfelf  muft  foon  be  to  the  manfions  of  reft. 

Relying  on  its  kindnefs  in  this  as  in  other  things,  and 
actuated  by  that  fervent  love  towards  it,  which  is  fo  natu- 
ral to  a  man  who  views  in  it  the  native  foil  of  hirnfelf  and 
his  progenitors  for  feveral  generations  ;  I  anticipate  with 
pleafing  expectation  that  retreat,  in  which  I  promife  my- 
felf to  realize,  without  alloy,  the  fweet  enjoyment  of  par- 
taking, in  the  midft  of  rny  Fellow  Citizens,  the  benign  in- 
fluence of  good  Laws  under  a  free  Government — the  ever 
favourite  object  of  my  heart, '  and  the  happy  reward,  as  I 
Jruft,  of  our  mutual  cares,  labors,  and  dangers. 


UNITED  STATES, 
September,  1796. 


#,   Jr  a 


/£> 


D    D    E    N   D    A. 


RALEIGH  (North  Caroline?)  Feb.  24,  1800. 

On  Saturday  lafr,  being  the  anniverfary  of  the  birth  of 
the  late  General  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  the  inhabitants 
of  this  City,  and  of  its  vicinity,  agreeably  to  the  Procla- 
mation, met  in  order  to  pay  that  tribute  of  refpedt  to  his 
memory,  which  is  felt  and  acknowledged  by  every  true  A- 
metican,  and  to  pals  the  day  in  iuch  iblerun  oifices,  as  the 
melancholy  occafion  pointed  out. 

The  day  was  announced  by  the  firing  of  cannon,  when 
the  inhabitants  afTembled  below  the  Court-houfe  in  Fayette- 
ville-ftreet ;  and,  being  formed,  moved  in  procefiion  to  the 
State-houfe  in  the  following  order,  the  bells  tolling,  and 
ininute-guns  firing,  during  the  proceffion  :— • 

Capt.  Cook's  Company  of  Infantry  ; 

Citizens  ; 
Capt.  Hunter's  Troop  of  Cavalry  ; 

Boys  ; 

Girls,  drefled  in  white  frocks   with  black  fcarycs  ; 
Clerks  of  State  Officers  ; 

State  Officers  ; 

Clerks  of  Federal  Officers  ; 

Federal  Officers  ; 

Council  of  State  ; 

The  Governor  and  his  Secretary  ; 

Mafonic   Brethren ; 

Grand  Mafrer, 

On  arriving  at  Union-fquare,  the  order  of  proceflion  was 
reverfcd,  and  the  whole  entered  the  State-houfe,  where  were 
feated  a  numerous  and  refpe&able  aflemblage  of  Ladies. — 
A  prayer  was  offered  upv  to  the  Deity,  and  then  a  pfalm  was 
fung ;  after  which,  Major  Robert  Williams,  in  an  hand- 
fome  and  eloquent  manner,  delivered  the  oration  which  he 
had  been  rcquefled  to  prepare  for  the  occafion. 

The  fervices  of  the  day  being  finifhed,  the  Citizens  re- 
tired to  their  refpeclive  homes,  manifesting  by  their  forrow- 
ful  mein,  the  irreparable  lofs  which  all  Ibflain  in  the  firft  of 
Patriots,  the  be  ft  of  Friends,  and  the  Founder  of  their 
Country's  Greatnefs. 


ADDENDA.  4j 

FAYETTEVILLE,  Feb.  24. 

Agreeable  to  the  PreGdent's  Proclamation,  the  Citizens 
of  this  place  were  engaged  laft  Saturday  in  paying  their  tri- 
bute of  refpect  to  the  memory  of  our  illuftrious  WASHING- 
TON. They  were  reminded  of  the  duties  of  the  day  by  the 
firing  of  cannon  at  fun-rife,  and,  about  n  o'clock,  the  pro- 
ceflion  moved  from  the  Tow n-houfe  in  the  following  orxler: 

Capt.  Cochran's  Troop   of  Horfe; 

Capt.  Hodge 's  ditto  ; 
Capt.  Adams's  Independent  Company  ; 

Capt.  M '-Queen's   Light  Infantry  ; 
Cols.  D-ekeyfer  and  Overtoil,  Continental  Officers  ; 

MilitiaOfHcers  of  Cumberland  County  ; 

The  General's  Horfe  (repreiented  by  the  celebrated  Horfe 

?!N  DEPENDENCE,   who  was  foaled  in  Virginia  on  the 

fame  day  that  the  Independence  of  America  was 

declared)  ; 
The  Orator ; 

Capt    Dickfon,          C     ^   1      Major  Mumford, 
Major  Davis,  i     5i    r      Major  Theams, 

Col.     Davis,  (     s-   )      Col.  M'Alifler ; 

(Carried  by  four  Serjeants) 
MefT.  Barge,  Dick,  and  Mallet,  the  oldeft  inhabitants  of 

the  town,  as  chief  mourners; 

The  Tutors  of  the  Academy,  followed  by  the  Students; 
Mifs  Taylor  and  the  young  Ladies  of  the  Academy  ; 

The  Ladies  of  Fayctteville ; 

Officers  and  Members  of  the  Phoenix  Lodge  ; 

John  Hay,  Efq.  Town  Repreientative  ; 

And,    Citizens. 

The  procefiion  proceeded  through  the  principal  ftreetsto 
the  CourNhoufe,  where  an  appropriate  oration  was  deliver- 
ed by  Major  S.  D,  Pnrviance.  After  which  the  proceflioa 
again  formed,  and  returned  to  the  Town-houfe,  where  the 
Bier  was  depofited,  after  Ma-Ionic  and  Military  honours  lirnl 
been  performed, 

WARRBNTON,  Feb.  24, 

Saturday  laft  was  obfer.ved  by  the  Citizens  of  this  town 
and  its  vicinity,  as  a  day  of  general  mourning.  The  "col- 
lection of  both  i'exes  was  very  numerous  and  refpeclable^ 
all  anxioufly  united  in  exhibiting  the  laft  melancholy  tribute 
•of  refpecl  to  the  memory  of  the  Father  o£  their  Country, 

ih* 


%$  ADDENDA 

the  Champion  of  its  Rights,  the  Proteclor  of  its  Libertie^ 
the  great  and  good  General  GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangement  having  made  the  necef- 
fary  difpofitions,  the  proceflion  was  formed  oppofite  to  the 
Court-houfe,  and,  at  12  o'clock,  moved  in  the  following 
order : — 

Capt.  Caller's  Company  of  Cavalry  difmounted,  the  (land- 

ard  and  mufic  in  mourning  ; 

Capt.  Turner's  Company  of  Grenadiers,  arms  reverfed, 

colours  and  mnfic  in  mourning  ; 

Rev.  Mr.  Gardiner; 

Federal  Officers; 

Militia  Officers ; 

Magiftrates  of  the  County; 

Sheriff"  and  Clerk  of  the  County  ; 

Mafonic  Society  in  due  form,  the  emblems  and  jewels 

in  mourning » 

Makers  of  the  Academy  ; 

Students,  two  and  two  ; 

Citizens,  two  and  two. 

When  arrived  in  front  of  the. Academy,  they  halted,  the 
Military  opened  to  the  right  and  left,  facing  inwards,  and 
the  proceflion  pafTcd  into  the  houfe,  the  Military  forming  a 
femi-circle  in  front  —  The  duties  of  the  day  were  begun 
•with  prayer  by  the  Rev,  Mr.  Gardiner,  after  which  an  ora- 
tion was  delivered  by  Mr.  Mordecai. 

The  ftores  in  town  were  fhut  up,  all  bufinefs  was  fuf- 
pended,  and  our  Citizens  evinced  their  heart-felt  forrow  for 
the  lois  of  their  beloved  and  much-regretted  WASHINGTON, 

MASONIC  FUNERAL  RITES. 
BOSTON,  Feb.  24. 

Prompt  to  the  invitation  to  render  the  richly  merited 
tribute  of  refpect  to  the  memory  of  their  departed  Brother 
WASHINGTON,  all  the  Mafonic  Brethren  within  reach  of 
the  notice,  attended  at  a  Grand  Funeral  Proceflion  lafl  Sa- 
turday. —  In  the  morning,  the  mourning  knell  commenced 
the  ceremonies  ot  the  day;  at  12  o'clock,  the  lengthy  pro- 
cefflon  was  formed  at  the  Old  State-houfe,  and  moved,  with 
flow  and  folemn  mufic,  through  the  principal  ftreets  in  the 
following  order  to  Dr.  Eckly's  Meeting-houfe : — 

Two 


ADDENDA.  89 

PROCESSION. 

Grand  Purfuivants,  clad  in  fable  robes  and  weeds, 
mounted  on  elegant  white  horfes,  grandly  caparifoned, 
bearing  an  elliptical  mourning  Arch  (14  feet  wide)  with 
the  facred  text  in  filver  thara#ers,  "  Blefl^d  are  the 
"  Dead  who  die  in  the  Lord." 

(The  Purfaivaots  were  fupported  by  two  Veterans  in 
uniform,  with  their  badges  of  merit) 

A   Deputy  Marfhal  ; 
Nine  Stewards  of  Lodges,  with  flirouded  wands  ; 

Two  Tylers  ; 
Entered  Apprentices  of  all  Lodges  ; 

Fellow  Crafts  ; 

Mailer  Mafons  ; 

A  Deputy  Marflial; 

f  ,     Stewards  of  Lodges,  with  mourning  ftaves  ; 
Deacons  of  Lodges,  with  mourning  wands  ; 

Secretaries  and  Treafurers ; 
Junior  and  Pad  Junior  Wardens  ; 

Pa  ft  Matters ; 

The  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Mafons,  as  Pad  Matters  ; 
An  elderly  Mafon,   bearing  an  elegant  figure  of  Minerva 

on  a  banner,  emblem  WISDOM  ; 

Three  times  three  fons  of  Mafons,    about  10  years  of  age, 
bearing  fprigs  of  Caflia,  the  centre  boy  fupporting 

the  banner  of  STRENGTH; 

A  Mafon 's  fon  bearing  the  banner  of  BEAUTY  ; 

Nine  daughters  of  Maibns,  each  with  a  bafket  of  flowers  ; 

(The  Sons  and  Daughters  drefled  in  funeral  uniforms) 

A  Deputy  Marfhal ; 
A  full  band  of  Mufic  ; 

The  Matters  of  the  three  eldett  Lodges,  bearing  three 
candlefticks  with  candles,  the  right  one  extinguifhed  ; 

The  Reverend  Clergy  of  the  Fraternity  ; 

A  Matter  Mafon,  bearing  a  black  cuihion  with  the  holy 

Writings,  and  the  Grand  Mailer's  jewels; 

Eight  relieving  Tylers ; 

Right  W.  Br.  Scollay,       C     3    )      Right  W.  Br.  Morton, 
Right  W.  Br.  Bartler,      •?     *     >      Right  W.  Br.  Revere, 
Right  W.  Br.  Cutler,       f     2"    )      Right  W.  Br.  Warren ; 
(Funeral  infignia : — A  Pedeftal,  covered  with  a  pall,  the 
efcutcheons  of  which  were  characterittic  drawings  on 
fattin   of  Faith,  Hope,  Charity,  and  Brotherly  Love — 
The  Pedettal  (befides  the  Urn,  which  was  upwards  of  3 
feet  in  length%   and  contained  a  relict  of  the  illuftrious 
N  de- 


9»  ADDENDA. 

deceafed)  bore  alfo  a  representation  of  the  GAius  of  Ma^ 
ibnry  weeping  over  the  LJrn,  and  other  fuitable  emblems, 
the  whole  a  white  marble  compolition.  On  the  Urn 
was  this  infcription  :  "  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Bro- 
ther George  Wafhington,  raifed  to  the  all-pertecT:  Lodge 
Dec.  14,  5799?  l^Pe  iQ  years  and  full  of  glory.) 
A  Charger,  iiif  erbly  capariibn'd,  led  by  two  Brethren  ; 

The  Grand  Marftial; 

The  mod  Worfhipful  Brother  Dunn,    as  chief  mourner, 
attended  by  the  Grand  Deacons  and  Grand 

Sword-bearers ; 
The  Deputy  Grand  Matter; 

Grand  Wardens ; 
The  Grand  Chaplain  and  Orator? 

Pad  Grand  Officers ; 

Grand  Treafurer  and  Secretary  ; 

Two  Grand  Stewards,   bearing  an  Arch  with  this  infcrip- 

tion,  u  and  their  works  do  follow  them." 
(The   Grand  Matter,   Grand  Officers,   and    pall   bearers, 
were  drefTed  in  full  mourning,   with  white  {carves  and 
weeds.     Each  Brother  bore  a  iprig  of  Caffia  ;  and  every 
one  wore  appropriate  badges  of  mourning) 

When  arrived  at  the  Church,  an  Ode  was  fung  by  Bro- 
ther Dr.  Fay  and  a  choir  of  the  Fraternity — an  Eulogy  was 
pronounced  by  the  Grand  Chaplain — and  then  a  Mafonic 
Dirge  was  fung  by  Brother  Eaton  and  the  choir. 

The  Proceflion  being  again  formed,  it  moved  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Freeman's  Church,  where  the  doling  folemnities  took 
place.  The  Funeral  fervices  were  performed  by  the  Rev. 
Brothers  Bentley  and  Walter — u  the  Flowers  were  ftrewed, 
and  the  Caflia  depofited" — The  Brethren  then  returned  to 
the  State-houfe,  unclothed,  and  feparated, 

ELEGY. 

NOW  fleeps  the  brave— he  funk  to  reft 
In  all  his  Country's  wifhes  bleft. — 
"When  Spring,  with  dewy  fingers  cold, 
Returns  to  deck  his  hallowed  mould, 
She  there  fhall  deck  a  fweeter  fod, 
Than  Fancy's  feet  have  ever  trod'. 

By  Fairy  hands  his  knell  is  rung, 
By  forms  unfcen  his  dirge  is  fung ; 
There  HONOUR  comes,  a  pilgrim  grey, 
To  blefs  the  turf  that  wraps  his  clay  ; 
And  FREEDOM  fhall  the  while  repair^ 
Aud  dwell  a  weeping  Hermit  there. 


ADDENDA,  ji 

GEORGETOWN,  Feb.  24. 

Many  nations  have,  by  public  honours,  difplayed  their 
gratitude  to,  and  veneration  for,  illultrious  Citizens  ;  bui; 
jiever  has  a  nation  paid  fuch  repeated  and  univerial  honours 
to  the  memory  of  any  Man,  as  have,  fince  his  death,  been 
paid  to  WASHINGTON — and  never  did  any  other  Man  Co 
eminently  deferve  them. 

The  22,d  of  February,  which  hitherto  had  been  celebrat- 
ed with  joy,  was  now  dedicated  to  mourning — At  10  o'clock, 
the  inhabitants  cffembled  in  the  Catholic  Church,  where 
after  divine  fervice,  MafterB-.Walfh,  of  the  College,  deliver- 
ed  an  academical  Eulogium,  and  Matter  D,  Lynch  recited  a- 
pathetic  Elegy,  — At  3  o'clock,  a  proceflion  was  formed  to 
the  Prefbyterian  Church,  where  the  Rev.  S.  B.  Balch  preach- 
ed an  excellent  fennon  from  Eft  her  x,  3  ;  after  which  the 
following  Lanzas  were  impreffively  lung  by  a  vocal  band : — 

CONSOLATORY     AIR. 
DROOP  not,  COLUMBIA— 'Heaven  is  juftj 

And  would  thy  Chief  reward ; 
Tho'  what  was  mortal  turns  to  duft, 

His  Name  thy  coaft  fliatt  guard ! 
Fir'd  with  remembrance!  of  his  deeds, 

The  Chiefs  he  liv'd  to  form, 
Shall  mount  again  their  neighing  fields. 

And  guide  the  martial  ftorm  '. 
Taught  by  the  maxims  he  approv'd^ 

Thy  younger  race  will  burn 
To  emulate  the  fires  lie  lovM, 

And  rufh  to  arms  in  turn  ! 
Infpir'd  by  Liberty  and  Thee, 

They'll  make  invaders  fly ; 
JL-ike  WASHINGTON,  their  choice  will  be, 

To  conquer — or  to  die ! 


Mr,  F  O  X's  EULOGY. 

During  the  Revolutionary  War,  it  may  eafily  be  imagin* 
ed,  that  to  applaud  General  Wafhington,  or  any  of  his  com- 
patriots, was  not  permitted  in  the  Britifh  dominions — After 
the  peace  of  1783,  his  conduct  received  the  open  and  almoft 
unanimous  approbation  of  all  parties  and  claffes  of  men — 
but,  in  89,  when  the  French  Revolution  commenced,  the 
Englifh  Rulers  again  dilcouraged  all  opinions  favourable  to 
L-iberty,  particularly  thole  reipecling  AMERICA,  which  they 
confidered  as  the  parent,  or  fource,  of  thofe  political  tenets 
>vhich  have  fmce  become  lo  hateful  to  the  Monarchs  of  Eu- 
N  a  rop<? 


9*  ADDENDA 

rope — and,  when  -the  French  nation  cliofe  another  form  of 
government,  every  perfon  approving  of  Kepublicanifin,  or 
its  principles,  was  deemed  guilty  of  treaion,  and  punifhed 
either  with  imprifonment  or  banifhment. — It  was  then  that 
Mr. Fox,  with  that  open,undifguifedcandor,\vhich  chara<fier- 
ifes  ail  his  opinions  and  actions,  had  the  courage  to  avow  his 
ientiments  being  decidedly  in  favour  of  the  French  Revolu- 
tion, and,  in  the  Houfe  of  Commons,  i«  the  year  1794,  to 
pronounce  the  following  elegant  eulogiuin  on  the  AMERICAN 
PATRIOT  :— - 

"  Illuftrious  Man !•— deriving  honour  lefs  from  the 

fplendor  of  his  fituation,  than  from  the  dignity  of  his  mind, 
before  whom  all  burrowed  Greatnefs  finks  into  infignifi- 
cance ! — I  cannot,  indeed,  help  admiring  the  wifdom  and 
the  fortune  of  this  GREAT  MAN— Not  by  the  exprefFion 
Fortune,  1  mean  to  derogate  from  his  merit ;  but  notwith- 
itcmding  his  extraordinary  talents  and  exalted  integrity*  it 
muft  be  confidered  as  fmgularly  fortunate,  that  he  fhould 
have  experienced  a  lot  which  fo  feldom  falls  to  the  portion 
of  humanity,  and  have  pafTed  through  fuch  a  variety  of 
icenes  without  ftain  and  without  reproach!  —  It  mutt  indeed 
create  aftonifliment,  that,  placed  in  circumftances  fo  critical, 
and  filling,  for  a  feries  of  time,  a  Nation  fo  confpicuous,  his 
character  fhould  never  once  have  been  called  in  queftion— -» 
that  he  fliould  in  no  one  infiance  have  been  accufed  cither  of 
peevifh  infolence,  or  of  mean  fubmiffion,  in  his  tranfaclions 
with  foreign  Nations — It  has  been  referred  for  Him  to  run 
the  race  of  glory,  without  experiencing  the  fmalleft  inter- 
ruption to  the  brilliancy  of  his  career  ! — The  breath  of  Cen- 
fure  has  not  dared  to  impeach  thevpurity  of  his  condudt,  nor 
the  eye  of  Envy  to  raii'e  its  malignant  glance  to  the  eleva- 
tion of  his  virtue — Such  has  been  the  tranfcendant  merit 
and  the  unparalleled  fate  of  this  illuftrious  Man  !" — 

Note—  CHARLES  JAMES  Fox  was  born  in  the  year  1749,  and  is  a- 
bout  ten  years  older  than  his  crafty  competitor  V/m.  Pitt. — The  Duke 
of  Norfolk  and  Mr.  Fox  were  lately  both,  expelled  from  his  Majeity's 

Council  for  giving  as  a  toail,  "  The  Sovereignty  of  the  People  !"- 

To  thofe  who  ai'e  attracted  by  Royalty  and  Nobility,  Mr.  Fox  will 
claim  their  fondeit  attention,  whilil  they  wonder  that  any  thing  De- 
mocratic ihould  anpear  in  his  compofition.  His  father  was  Sir  Ste- 
phen Fox,  afterwards  Lord  Holland,  and  he  is  brother  to  the  prefent 
Lord  ;  his  mother  was  Lady  Georgina  Carolina  Lenox,  daughter  of 
the  late,  and  nfter  of  the  prefent  Duke  of  Richmond ;  by  which  chan- 
nel, thro'  the  illuftrious  Houfe  of  Stewart,  the  royal  blocd  cf  Eng- 
Jand,  Scotland,  and  Sardinia  flows  in  his  veins, 


ADDENDA.  93 

*     In  a  countrjr,  where  every  circurr.fcnce,  public  or  private,  facred 
or  prophane,  becomes  a  matter  of  inveitigation,   often   of  .inteaipo- ; 
rate  difpuration,  it  was  not  to  be  expected,  that  fo  con  fermer!  rial  aa 
evert  t  as  the  d^ath  of  General  WaihivigtLri  would  paiV, 
the  Report  of  his  Phyiicians  paved  the  way  for  animaJLvoriioii  (fee 
page  4)  ;  and  it  was  evidently  connefted   with  the  difcu!5:;-n  1z,'.*dj 
carried  on  with  fo  much  indifcretion  by  the  'learned  Body  in  Phila- 
delphia. * — From  what  has  been  faid  or  written  on  this  fubjecJ:,  we 
feled  the  following  article — Our  Medical  readers  (if  they  can  pae- 
fyrve  their  good  temper)  will  judge  of  its  merits. 


OBSERVATIONS  on  the  Medical  Treatment  cf  General  WASH- 
INGTON in  Ins  laft  Ilinejs)  addr tiffed  fo  his  Phyjicians  Jj'-jjrs. 
CRAIK  and  DICK. 

1  HF.  life  of  this  illuftrious  perfonage  has  been  fo  eroinendy 
beneficial  and  ornamental  to  the  world,  that  every  man  who 
lias  a  juli  value  for  virtue  and  talents,  or  an  attachment  to 
^Liberty,  inuft  lament  his  death. 

The  lofs  to  his  country  at  this  critical  period,  is  incalcula- 
ble} it  is  irreparable — we  {ball  never  look  upon  his  like  again  ! 

I  have  perufed  the  account  published  by  his  phyficians,  of 
their  medical  treatment,  and  differ  from  them  (b  entirely  in 
my  opinion  of  its  propriety,  that  with  all  due  refpedt  for 
their  good  intentions,  1  think  it  my  duty  to  point  out  what  ap- 
pears to  me  a  molt  fatal  error  in  their  plan  ;  and  although  it 
is  not  in  the  power  of  Science  to  reftare  his  precious  life  ; 
yet  a  difcuffion  of  this  cafe  may  be  productive  of  benefit  to 
mankind. 

I,fuppo(e  myfelf  addrefling  men  of  fcience  ;  whole  minds 
are  fo  highly  cultivated  as  to  comprehend  iny  reafoning  on  this 
iubjcct,  which  I  (hall  make  as  ihort  and  clear  as  poflible. 

When 

^The  notorious  Peter  Porcupine  thrufl  himfelf  into  the  very  centre 
of  this  unfeemly  controverfy,  and  poured  his  whole  ilock  of  fcurriliiy 
(and  it  is  not  a  fmall  one)  upon  the  head  of  the  theoretic,  but  refpeft- 
able  Dr.  Rufh  —  The  Doctor  brought  his  cafe  before  a  Penniylvar.iati 
jury,  who  laid  a  fine  of  5000  dollars  upon  the  foul-mouth'd  Publifrter. 
— Peter  (-who  has  found  it  neceffary  to  ihift  his  pofition  from  Philadel- 
phia to  New  York)  acknowledges,  that  the  verdift,  cofts  of  fuir,  She- 
riff's fees,  &c.  w'll  amount  to  little  lei's  than  8000  dollars  —  Sc  much 
for  olScioully  fifhmg  in  troubled  waters  ! 


04  ADDENDA. 

When  we  examine  the  human  blood  by  optical  glaflcs,  by 
Chemiftry,  and  by  experimental  philofophy,  we  find  it  full  of 
nourifhment  in  young  people  ;  but  effete  and  poor  in  the  aged, 
—When  we  examine,  by  anatomical  infpeftions,  the  ftate  of 
the  vafcular  fyftem,  we  find  innumerable  ramiiicatious  in  the 
arteries  through  which  the  blood  flows  freely  in  young  peo* 
pie  ;  while  many  of  their  anaflomofes  are  obliterated  in  the 
aged. 

The  Wood  of  old  people,  therefore,  being  poorer,  and  the 
channels  for  conveying  its  nourifhment  fewer,  is  the  reafon 
that  old  people  cannot  bear  bleeding  fo  \yell  as  the  young  : 
and  it  likewife  explains  (what  every  man  of  fcience  and  ex- 
perience muft  know)  why  a  fmall  bleeding  has  the  fame  effect 
on  an  aged  perfon,  that  a  large  bleeding  has  on  the  young  anc| 
ruhutf. 

Thefb  obfervations,  founded  on  well-efjablifhed  facls,  de° 
monftrate  how  guarded  and  circjumfpecl:  we  ought  to  be  iq 
the  ufe  of  the  lancet,  when  our  patient  is  far  advanced  in 
life  :  and  how  actively  we  ought  to  employ  our  thoughts  iu 
cfeviOng  other  methods  than  profufe  blood-letting  in  fuch  a 
cafe. 

From  what  the  phyficians  have  published,  and  other  docu-? 
ments,  we  have. data  fuflicient  to  afcertain  how  far  the  max- 
rms  derivable  from  fcience,  experience,  and  judgment,  have 
governed  in  the  prefent  inflance. 

The  duration  of  this  illnefs  was  twenty  hours ;  from  3 
/.M.  till  after  10  P.M. 

A  bleeder  being  fent  for  at  the  unfeafonable  hour  of  3  A.M^ 
we  may  fuppofe  the  operation  was  not  performed  until  4 
o'clock  :  before  eleven  hoars  elapfed,  he  was  bled  again  twice 
profufely  ;  which  rnuit  have  been  about  18  ounces  each  time; 
and  foon  afterwards  he  was  bled  again  to  the  amount  of  33 
ounces. 

Thus  we  fee  by  their  own  ftatement,  that  they  drew 
from  a  man  in  the  68th  year  ot  his  age,  the  enormous  quan- 
tity of  82  ounces,  or  above  two  quarts  and  a  half  of  blood  in 
about  1 3  hours ! 

Very 


ADDENDA.  9$ 

*•*• 

^ 

Very  few  of  the  moft  robuft  young  men  in  the  world 
could  furvive  fuch  a  lofs  of  blood;'  but  the  body  of  an  aged 
perfon  muft  be  fo  exhaufted,  and  all  his  powers  fo  weakened 
by  it,  as  to  make  his  death  fpeedy  and  inevitable. 

Here  the  effedl  followed  the  caufe  precifely ;  the  phyfici- 
ans  foon  obferved  the  powers  of  life  yielding  ;  a  lofs  of  Jpeech; 
and  that  he  expired  without  a  ft  niggle — The  exceflive  bleed- 
ing had  left  him  no  ftrength  to  ftruggle  ! 

After  what  has  been  faid,  it  may  be  expected  that  I  fhould 
point  out  my  plan  : — I  will  ipeak  generally,  without  defcend- 
ing  to  criticife  on  the  minor  parts  of  the  treatment,  which, 
however,  I  <io  not  admire. 

They  ought  to  have  attacked  the  difeafe  as  near  to  its 
feat  as  poffible ;  the  vien  under  the  tongue  might  have  beea 
opened  ;  the  tonfils  might  have  been  fcarified  ;  the  fcarifica- 
tor  and  cup  might  have  been  applied  on  or  near  the  thyriod 
cartilage.  One  ounce  of  blood  drawn  in  this  way  would  re- 
Jieve  more  than  a  quart  drawn  from  the  arm,  and  would  not 
exhauft  and  enfeeble  the  body  ;  in  the  fame  manner  that  an 
ounce  of  blcod  drawn  at  the  temple,  relieves  an  inflamed  eye 
more  than  a  quart  drawn  from  the  arm. 

The  neck  might  have  been  rubbed  with  warm  laudanum 
and  camphor  ;  and  a  bag  of  warm  line  fait  laid  on  ;  but  th« 
unfeafonable  application  of  a  blifter  would  prevent  this. 

He  ought  to  have  been  put  into  one,  two,  or  three  flan- 
nels ;  and  inftead  of  calomel,  it  would  have  been  better  to 
have  given  him  frnall  draughts  of  hot  whey,  with  a  little 
laudanum,  camphor^  fpirits  volatilis  aromaticus,  or  fpiritus 
nitri  dulcis  occafionally,  to  remove  the  fpafm  which  caufect 
the  dyfpnea,  and  produce  perfpiration,  which  would  relieve 
the  lungs  by  turning  thecourfc  of  the  fluids  towards  the  fkiu, 

Savannah,      .  '  JOHN  BR.ICKELL. 

Jan.  23,  1800, 


ANNUAL  REGISTER. 


The  good  People  of  Virginia  and  North  Caroling 
faying  been  {leafed  to  approve ,  in  a  very  decided  man" 
ncr>  of  the  Publication  for  the  prefent  Tear,  the  Edit  or  9 
.AM  ERIC  ANUS  U«  BAN,  now  givfs  Notice,  that  the 
Work  iv ill  be  continued,  probably  on  a  larger  J cole,  Jor 
the  Tear  1801  ;  but,  that  it  will  be  fame  time  in  the.  ^ 
month  of  December  before  it  can  appear — Thofe,  how- 
everi  who  intend  to  make  Communications  to  it*  will  be 
fo  good  as  tranfmit  them  to  the  Editor  Jix  ivcekt  or  two 
months  before  that  time. 
BLAXDFORD  PRiNfiN 
March  1800.  . 


